seriously

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   In a serious way; treating something as important and not as a joke.

   He was hoping that we would take him seriously.

2. 2
   adv

   To a great or severe degree; very much.

   That was a seriously unpleasant thing to say.

3. 3
   adv

   Used to show that you really mean what you are about to say.

   Now, seriously, why did you forget to feed the cat today?

From Middle English seriously, sereously, ceryously, seryowslech (“earnestly”), equivalent to serious + -ly.

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