Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Firmly; tightly.
  • Steadily; constantly; persistently; industriously; eagerly.
  • Quietly.
  • In earnest; seriously; soberly; gravely; solemnly.
  • Sorrowfully; mournfully; miserably; grievously.
  • In a manner to cause sadness; badly; afflictively; calamitously; deplorably.
  • In ill health; poorly.
  • In dark or somber colors; soberly.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb obsolete Wearily; heavily; firmly.
  • adverb obsolete Seriously; soberly; gravely.
  • adverb Grievously; deeply; sorrowfully; miserably.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a sad manner; sorrowfully.
  • adverb Unfortunately, sad to say.
  • adverb obsolete Deeply, completely.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in an unfortunate or deplorable manner
  • adverb with sadness; in a sad manner
  • adverb in an unfortunate way

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From sad +‎ -ly.

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Examples

  • The Hi-T of the title sadly does not refer to scones with cream and jam and those little mini cakes.

    Empire News 2009

  • And statistics and polls prove that many of us were flip-flopping (a term sadly referring to one of John Kerry's biggest downfalls in the 2004 election) our way through the Dem-on-Dem crime.

    Richard Laermer: Barack: The Truth Blog 2008

  • Tom West sadly is ignorant of the fact that without a federal minimum wage, there is still a natural minimum wage.

    You Support the Minimum Wage. May I Ask Why?, Bryan Caplan | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty 2009

  • It was shocking but then again sadly NOT shocking.

    (Updated): Wilson's opponent raises more than $500K 2009

  • And changing partisan control changes nothing (as Obama, sadly, is finding out).

    Big risks. 2009

  • So now, I watch sadly from the other side of the garden fence as the 42 tomato plants we have continue to fruit mercilessly, the pepper plants begin dropping their rotting children on the ground as new spears appear, and zucchinis expand like the grow-your-own toys we used to get from the dollar store as kids.

    Archive 2009-08-01 Sarah 2009

  • It came with a slurring rush upward, swelling to a great heart-breaking burst of sound, and dying away in sadly cadenced woe -- then the next rush upward, octave upon octave; the bursting heart; and the infinite sorrow and misery, fainting, fading, falling, and dying slowly away.

    BÂTARD 2010

  • But, sadly, is disqualified for failing to acknowledge victory.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Andrew McCarthy Sticks to His Guns (And He May Be Pointing Them at You Next) 2010

  • I'm no fan of Adamson but at least it's an original idea (I presume) which, sadly, is all too rare for fims of such a size these days. vegabro

    Shrek Director Heads To Fountain City | /Film 2010

  • So now, I watch sadly from the other side of the garden fence as the 42 tomato plants we have continue to fruit mercilessly, the pepper plants begin dropping their rotting children on the ground as new spears appear, and zucchinis expand like the grow-your-own toys we used to get from the dollar store as kids.

    Chillin' Sarah 2009

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