# An Adverb-Forming Word Meaning '-ly'. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498 "2004-06-03T20:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/1 "2004-06-03T20:28:00Z")
I have a small problem. Every now and then, I want to change a word into an adverb (using “-_ly_”), but I am unable to because the word is too long, the addition of “-_ly_” makes it sound too silly, etc. I know for the comparative adjective “-_er_” and the superlative adjective “-_est_” we have _more_ and _most_, respectively. But what separate word, if indeed any, can be used to mean “-_ly_”? Any help anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/2 "2004-06-03T20:34:28Z")
So, instead of saying “greatly” you want to say “in a great way” in just two words, one of them being “great”? ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/3 "2004-06-03T20:42:58Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > So, instead of saying “greatly” you want to say “in a great way” in just two words, one of them being “great”? Actually you have already made an interesting point: using an adverbial prepositional phrase would partly solve the problem. But yes, my original question was is there **one** word that means “-ly” just like “more” means “-er”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/4 "2004-06-03T21:14:05Z")
> [@Jim B.](#): > > I have a small problem. Every now and then, I want to change a word into an adverb (using “-_ly_”), but I am unable to because the word is too long, the addition of “-_ly_” makes it sound too silly, etc. Can you give an example? ---
**Author:** ![jawdirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jawdirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jawdirk)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/5 "2004-06-03T21:45:06Z")
I would also like to see some examples of -ly making a word sound silly. You could try “with \” instead of “\-ly” but, just looking at a few examples, I think the “\-ly” would be prefered in just about every case. Examples: “He craftily opened the wine bottle.” or “He opened the wine bottle with craft.” “She spoke profoundly.” or “She spoke with profundity.” “He hastily washed the teacup.” or “He washed the teacup with haste.” The “with \” construction does have the advantage of adding an adjective to the noun, e.g. “He washed the teacup with inhuman haste.” ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/6 "2004-06-03T22:58:05Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Can you give an example? I was afraid someone was going to ask for an example. I know I notice it from time to time with many (or more than one in any event) words. The only example I can think of offhand is _smelly_. What is the adverb form of _smelly_? Smellily? I know that one was kind of weak. I do find it hard to believe though I am the only one who’s ever noticed this. Does anyone else know what I am talking about 🙂 ? ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/7 "2004-06-03T23:19:18Z")
> [@Jim B.](#): > > I was afraid someone was going to ask for an example. I know I notice it from time to time with many (or more than one in any event) words. The only example I can think of offhand is _smelly_. What is the adverb form of _smelly_? Smellily? I know that one was kind of weak. I do find it hard to believe though I am the only one who’s ever noticed this. Does anyone else know what I am talking about 🙂 ? Yes! Like funnily. It’s a word, and I use it, but man… it sounds bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/8 "2004-06-03T23:40:11Z")
The affix ‘–ly’ simply means ‘like’, therefore the adverb that means ‘-ly’ is ‘like’. (Well duh 😉 ) That’s a bit troublesome because using ‘like’ in that manner is somewhat archaic. You’d probably get some odd looks saying that something is smelly-like. Sounds like that line from Monty Python’s ‘Cheese Shop’ sketch – “Oooh arr, ‘ee be ‘ungry like.” But that’s the adverb that is technically correct. ‘He opened the wine bottle craft-like’, “she spoke profound-like”, “He washed the teacup haste-like”. Of course I personally believe that Ethilrist has the more elegant and modern solution: just use two words. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/9 "2004-06-04T00:12:24Z")
For the specific examply, I would say “stinkily.” Otherwise, I usually just use the -ly: don’t be afraid to sound silly. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/10 "2004-06-04T02:34:05Z")
How would you use the adverbial form of “smelly” in a sentence? I can’t think of how you would do something in a smelly manner. For verbs that might be a possibility (e.g., “fart”), the adjective would be redundant. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/11 "2004-06-04T02:53:20Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > How would you use the adverbial form of “smelly” in a sentence? I can’t think of how you would do something in a smelly manner. For verbs that might be a possibility (e.g., “fart”), the adjective would be redundant. Hypothetical Discussion I Just Made Up (from a workplace): **JOHN** : "Boy, I’ve been so preoccupied with that Johnson account, I haven’t bathed in weeks! **JANE** : “Really?” **JOHN** : “Yeah, I guess you could say I’ve been working smellily.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/12 "2004-06-04T03:01:59Z")
Okely-Dokely! ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/13 "2004-06-04T04:14:01Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > For the specific examply, I would say “stinkily.” > > Otherwise, I usually just use the -ly: don’t be afraid to sound silly. But I don’t want to speak sillily! ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/14 "2004-06-04T07:11:20Z")
By coindidence, seconds before I saw this thread I was contemplating the word “lively.” Livelily? Now that sounds silly. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/15 "2004-06-04T07:33:42Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Yes! Like funnily. It’s a word, and I use it, but man… it sounds bizarre. Makes me think of funnels. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/16 "2004-06-04T09:55:58Z")
Sillily is a word. Look up “silly” on [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com), and scroll down for the adverb. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/17 "2004-06-04T11:42:10Z")
Higgledy-piggledily sounds pretty stupid. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/18 "2004-06-04T12:25:22Z")
> [@Jim B.](#): > > Hypothetical Discussion I Just Made Up (from a workplace): > **JOHN** : "Boy, I’ve been so preoccupied with that Johnson account, I haven’t bathed in weeks! > **JANE** : “Really?” > **JOHN** : “Yeah, I guess you could say I’ve been working smellily.” 🙂 Why can’t you just use “smelly” as the adverb? Adverbs don’t require an “-ly” (e.g., “The watch runs slow” or “I feel bad.” Both are perfectly correct – look it up). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/19 "2004-06-04T12:46:49Z")
When you use this techique, are you doing it advertbily? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498/20 "2004-06-04T12:48:00Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > When you use this techique, are you doing it advertbily? **Adverbily?** :smack: I should never post before having coffee. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-adverb-forming-word-meaning-ly/248498.md?page=2)