ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mightily

adv. manner
C1 Advanced US //ˈmaɪtəɫi// UK //mˈaɪtɪli// might·i·ly Archaic Informal Literary

adv. in a very strong or powerful way. You use it to describe something that is done with a lot of force or energy.

adv. in a powerful, forceful, or intense manner. Often used to emphasize the scale of an action or the degree of a feeling.


SIMPLE

The storm blew mightily against the windows.

CONTEXTUAL

The two teams played mightily for the championship, showing incredible skill and determination throughout the final match.

COMPLEX

The old engine groaned mightily as it struggled to pull the heavy train up the steep incline, its pistons hissing with the effort of the climb.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English mightili (“with might, powerfully, strongly; forcefully, violently; greatly; etc.”), from Old English meahtiglice (“with might, powerfully, mightily”), from meahtiġ, mihtiġ (“powerful, mighty”) + -līċe (suffix forming adverbs). Mihtiġ is derived from Proto-Germanic mahtīgaz (“mighty”), from mahtiz (“force, strength; ability, power”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European megʰ- (“to be able”)) + -gaz (suffix with the sense ‘being; doing; having’ forming adjectives). By surface analysis, mighty + -ly (suffix forming adverbs).

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