criminently

English

Alternative forms

• crimenetly
• criminetly

Etymology

Probably formed by infixation of nonsense syllables into criminy.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɪmɪnəntli/
• Hyphenation: crim‧i‧nent‧ly

Interjection

criminently

1. (US) An expression of annoyance or surprise
   • 1946, Odell Shepard, Holdfast Gaines, page 343:

     "Criminently!" Bean's voice rang out so that all the listening room could hear him. "They's baout thutty slant-eyed rats in hyar […] "

   • 1985, Ray Bradbury, Death is a Lonely Business, page 198:

     "Criminently," said Crumley. "Look at the mob."

   • 2005, Tennessee Williams, “The Big Game”, in Mister Paradise and other one-act plays, page 101:

     I wanta take a look at the stars! JOE [astonished]: At the stars! Criminently! Is that all?

References

• Dwight Bolinger (1986) Intonation and its parts: melody in spoken English‎^[1], →ISBN, page 86