wryly C1 Topic:Space, Position & Direction US /ˈɹaɪli/ See IPA manual Freq #71021 Meanings 1 adv In a way that shows dry, slightly mocking humour. "At least it can't get any worse," he said wryly. 2 adv With the face twisted slightly to one side. She smiled wryly as she read the absurd note. Etymology AI details From wry + -ly. *wreyḱ- Proto-Indo-European View etymology graph -> Topics Space, Position & Direction Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # wryly **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /ˈɹaɪli/ **Frequency rank:** 71021 ## Meanings 1. In a way that shows dry, slightly mocking humour. 2. With the face twisted slightly to one side. ## Examples - "At least it can't get any worse," he said wryly. - She smiled wryly as she read the absurd note. ## Roots and Affixes - Root: *wreyḱ- ## Etymology From wry + -ly. ## AI Etymology Wryly is from wry + -ly. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adverbial form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean in a way that shows dry, slightly mocking humour, or with the face twisted slightly to one side. ## Topics - Space, Position & Direction - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown