heavily
UK: ˈhevɪli | US: ˈhevɪli
adv. to a great degree; with great weight or force
adv. in a manner suggesting sadness or oppression
adv. with a thick or dense consistency
The word "heavily" derives from the Old English "hefig" (heavy), which traces back to Proto-Germanic *hafigaz, meaning "having weight." The suffix "-ly," from Old English "-lice," transforms adjectives into adverbs, indicating manner or degree. Over time, "heavily" evolved to describe not just physical weight but also metaphorical intensity (e.g., emotional or atmospheric heaviness).
It rained heavily all night, flooding the streets.
She sighed heavily after hearing the bad news.
The cake was heavily frosted, making it overly sweet.
The air smelled heavily of smoke after the fire.
He leaned heavily on his cane as he walked.