icily

WOTD - 21 August 2010    

English

Etymology

From icy +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /ˈaɪ.sɪ.li/

• Audio (US)

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Adverb

icily (comparative more icily, superlative most icily)

1. In the manner of ice; with a cold or chilling effect.
   • 1971, Alan Sillitoe, Travels in Nihilon, page 76

     The cold Alpine air flowed icily into his car, so he stopped by the roadside to put on a leather trench-coat, thick scarf, and woollen hat […]

2. (figuratively) In an uncaring manner.
   • 1943, M. F. K. Fisher, "To Feed Such Hunger", The Gastronomical Me

     […] quite often her husband and Jo did not eat at home, or sat icily silent through a meal.

Synonyms

• (in the manner of ice): coldly
• (in an uncaring manner): aloofly, coldly

Related terms

• ice
• iciness
• icy

Translations

in the manner of ice

Armenian: սառնորեն (hy) (saṙnoren) Finnish: jäätävästi (fi)

in an uncaring manner

Armenian: սառնորեն (hy) (saṙnoren), սառնությամբ (hy) (saṙnut’yamb) Finnish: jäätävästi (fi)

Russian: холодно (ru), безучастно (ru), недружелюбно (ru)

References

• icily in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• icily in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913