ENGLISH
REFERENCE

darkly

adv.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdɑɹkɫi// UK //dˈɑːkli// dark·ly Literary

adv. in a way that is serious, mysterious, or slightly scary. You use this to describe a person's mood or a story that has a serious and gloomy feeling.

adv. in a manner that is serious, somber, or ominous; in a way that suggests a lack of light or a mysterious atmosphere.


SIMPLE

He spoke darkly about the future of the company.

CONTEXTUAL

The author wrote the ending darkly, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and foreboding.

COMPLEX

The protagonist's darkly humorous observations about the political landscape reveal a deep-seated cynicism that he has developed over decades of service.

Etymology 1

From Middle English derkly, derkely, derkliche, derkeliche; equivalent to dark + -ly. Compare Old English deorclīċe, a parallel formation.

Etymology 2

From Middle English derkely, equivalent to dark + -ly.

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