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definitions

dizzy

[diz-ee]
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adjective, diz·zi·er, diz·zi·est.

having a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall; giddy; vertiginous.
bewildered; confused.
causing giddiness or confusion: a dizzy height.
heedless; thoughtless.
Informal. foolish; silly.

verb (used with object), diz·zied, diz·zy·ing.

to make dizzy.

Origin of dizzy

before 900; Middle English dysy, Old English dysig foolish; cognate with Low German düsig stupefied
Related formsdiz·zi·ly, adverbdiz·zi·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dizzily

Contemporary Examples of dizzily

Historical Examples of dizzily

  • Dizzily I rose and slipped into the frayed and greasy garments.

    The Trail of '98

    Robert W. Service

  • Dizzily, she wondered how in the world she was to explain her presence.

    Jill the Reckless

    P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse

  • Whereat those maidens, with wild stare, Walk'd dizzily away.

    Endymion

    John Keats

  • Dizzily he got to his feet, found his horse, and started toward Mesa.

    Brand Blotters

    William MacLeod Raine

  • He tried to recall the scene that had just been enacted, and dizzily held it all in a flash.

British Dictionary definitions for dizzily

dizzy

adjective -zier or -ziest

affected with a whirling or reeling sensation; giddy
mentally confused or bewildered
causing or tending to cause vertigo or bewilderment
informal foolish or flighty

verb -zies, -zying or -zied

(tr) to make dizzy
Derived Formsdizzily, adverbdizziness, noun

Word Origin for dizzy

Old English dysig silly; related to Old High German tusīg weak, Old Norse dos quiet
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for dizzily

dizzy

adj.

Old English dysig "foolish, stupid," from Proto-Germanic *dusijaz (cf. Low German düsig "dizzy," Dutch duizelen "to be dizzy," Old High German dusig "foolish," German Tor "fool," Old English dwæs, Dutch dwaas "foolish"), perhaps from PIE *dheu- (1) "dust, vapor, smoke; to rise in a cloud" (and related notions of "defective perception or wits").

Meaning "having a whirling sensation" is from mid-14c.; that of "giddy" is from c.1500 and seems to merge the two earlier meanings. Used of the "foolish virgins" in early translations of Matthew xxv; used especially of blondes since 1870s. Related: Dizzily.

dizzy

v.

Old English dysigan, from source of dizzy (adj.). Related: Dizzied; dizzying.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper