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soundly. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
soundly, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
soundly in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
c. 1400s, from sound + -ly. Originally meaning "safely", the present sense came in the 16th century.
Pronunciation
Adverb
soundly (comparative more soundly, superlative most soundly)
- In a thorough manner; in manner free of defect or deficiency.
He was soundly thrashed by the semi-professional boxer.
1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 16:Pro. Let them be hunted ſoundly : At this houre / Lies at my mercy all mine enemies : […]
1847 October 16, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], chapter IV, in Jane Eyre. An Autobiography. , volume I, London: Smith, Elder, and Co., , →OCLC, pages 42–43:Mrs. Reed soon rallied her spirits: she shook me most soundly, she boxed both my ears, and then left me without a word.
1899, William George Aston, A History of Japanese Literature, page 272:The wedding company, fatigued with their enjoyment of the previous night, slept soundly late into the next morning.
1911, L. D. Biagi, The Centaurians, Ch. I:My gold carried little weight with him, he was sincerely fond of me and consequently rated me soundly for all indiscretions, declaring I would regret wasting the best years of my life and deadening my vast talents […]
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