DEVILISHLY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does devilishly mean? 

• DEVILISHLY (adverb)
  The adverb DEVILISHLY has 3 senses:

1. as a devil; in an evil manner

2. in a playfully devilish manner

3. (used as intensives) extremely

  Familiarity information: DEVILISHLY used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEVILISHLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

As a devil; in an evil manner

Synonyms:

devilishly; diabolically; fiendishly

Context example:

his writing could be diabolically satiric

Pertainym:

devilish (showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In a playfully devilish manner

Synonyms:

devilish; devilishly

Context example:

the socialists are further handicapped if they believe that capitalists are not only wicked but also devilishly clever

Pertainym:

devilish (showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(used as intensives) extremely

Synonyms:

deadly; deucedly; devilishly; insanely; madly

Context example:

insanely jealous

Domain usage:

intensifier; intensive (a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies)

 Context examples 

Whereas, by a statute made in the reign of his imperial majesty Calin Deffar Plune, it is enacted, that, whoever shall make water within the precincts of the royal palace, shall be liable to the pains and penalties of high-treason; notwithstanding, the said Quinbus Flestrin, in open breach of the said law, under colour of extinguishing the fire kindled in the apartment of his majesty’s most dear imperial consort, did maliciously, traitorously, and devilishly, by discharge of his urine, put out the said fire kindled in the said apartment, lying and being within the precincts of the said royal palace, against the statute in that case provided, etc. against the duty, etc.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)