darkly

American  

[dahrk-lee] / ˈdɑrk li /

adverb

1. so as to appear dark.

2. vaguely; mysteriously.

3. in a vaguely threatening or menacing manner.

   He hinted darkly that we had not heard the last of the matter.

4. imperfectly; faintly.

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Etymology

Origin of darkly

before 1000; Middle English derkly, Old English deorclīce (in figurative sense only). See dark, -ly

Example Sentences

Wines from this grape usually skew tannic, even fierce, but the Niepoort version is the opposite: darkly fruity, slightly funky, fairly low in alcohol and very approachable.

From The Wall Street Journal

By recognizing the solo instrument as a conveyor of stock-taking, it colors darkly, evoking changing leaves and sunset.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s terrible stuff, but at least we get to witness some darkly funny efforts by both Vance and Kirk to make these rumors go away.

From Salon

He didn’t have the totemic, darkly glamorous style of Robert Mapplethorpe but one more intimate, more dependent on human connection and contingency, even as he remained meticulous in his pursuit of the perfect shot.

From The Wall Street Journal

I was oddly encouraged by an opinion piece last month in the New York Times darkly alleging that antisemites have taken over the American right.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• desperately
• sadly