þearle

Old English

Etymology

From þearl (“severe, harsh”) +‎ -e

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈθæ͜ɑr.le/, [ˈθæ͜ɑrˠ.le]

Adverb

þearle (comparative þearlor, superlative þearlost)

1. very hard, keenly, harshly, severely
2. greatly
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "On the Nativity of our Lord"

     María wæs ða cuma ðær, swā swā þæt godspel ús segð; and for ðæs folces geðryle wæs þæt gesthus ðearle genyrwed.

     Mary was there a stranger, as the gospel tells us; and through the concourse of people the inn was greatly crowded.