darkly
Americanadverb
-
so as to appear dark.
-
vaguely; mysteriously.
-
in a vaguely threatening or menacing manner.
He hinted darkly that we had not heard the last of the matter.
-
imperfectly; faintly.
Etymology
Origin of darkly
before 1000; Middle English derkly, Old English deorclīce (in figurative sense only). See dark, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
‘It had better not be,’ Uncle replied darkly.
From Literature
In fiction that means a darkly comic novel about a gay married couple on the vacation from hell on to a debut portrait of first-gen Asian American angst.
From Los Angeles Times
“The prototypes are a bust,” he muttered darkly.
From Literature
Paul Thomas Anderson’s darkly comedic action-thriller “One Battle After Another” won the top prize at the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, continuing its dominating run through awards season.
From Los Angeles Times
The mythic dimension may be missing here, but Holmes darkly captivates within the narrower compass of this energizing revival.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
