damnably
|dam-nə-bly|
/ˈdæm.nə.bli/
(damnable)
worthy of condemnation
Etymology
'damnably' derives from the adjective 'damnable', which in turn comes from Late Latin 'damnabilis' (from Latin 'damnare' meaning 'to condemn' or 'to pronounce loss').
'damnare' (Latin) > 'damnabilis' (Late Latin) > Old/Medieval French and Middle English forms > Middle English 'damnable' > modern English 'damnable' + suffix '-ly' → 'damnably'.
Originally related to formal judgment or condemnation ('to condemn, to declare guilty'), it evolved into an adjective meaning 'worthy of condemnation' and the adverb now means 'in a condemning manner' or more loosely 'to an extreme degree'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner deserving condemnation or blame; reprehensibly.
He handled the situation damnably, ignoring everyone's safety.
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Adverb 2
to an extreme or very notable degree (informal/literary use as an intensifier).
The instructions were damnably unclear, and everyone was confused.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/03 00:13