thickly
UK: ˈθɪkli | US: ˈθɪkli
adv. in a thick manner; densely or heavily
adv. with a thick consistency or texture
adv. (of speech) indistinctly or hoarsely
The word "thickly" derives from the Old English "þicce" (thick), which originally meant "dense" or "crowded." The suffix "-ly," from Old English "-lice," transforms adjectives into adverbs, indicating manner or degree. Over time, "thickly" evolved to describe not just physical density (e.g., "a thickly forested area") but also metaphorical thickness, such as speech ("he spoke thickly after the surgery"). The root "thick" has Germanic origins, linked to Dutch "dik" and German "dick," reinforcing its core meaning of compactness or heaviness.
The soup was thickly garnished with herbs.
Fog settled thickly over the valley, reducing visibility.
She spread the jam thickly on her toast.
His accent made him speak thickly, and some words were hard to understand.
The paint was applied thickly to create a textured effect.