awfully
UK: ˈɔːfəli | US: ˈɔːfəli
adv. extremely or unpleasantly (intensifier)
adv. in a manner inspiring awe or dread (archaic)
The word "awfully" originates from the Middle English term "aweful," combining "awe" (Old Norse "agi," meaning terror or dread) and the suffix "-ful" (full of). Over time, "awful" shifted from meaning "awe-inspiring" to "extremely bad," and the adverbial form "awfully" followed this semantic drift. The "-ly" suffix, from Old English "-lice," standardizes it as an adverb. The intensifier usage emerged in the 19th century, weakening the original sense of dread.
The weather turned awfully cold overnight.
She felt awfully tired after the long journey.
He apologized awfully for his mistake.
The old castle looked awfully eerie in the moonlight.
It’s awfully kind of you to help us.