The word "frighteningly" is spelled with three syllables, as follows: /ˈfraɪtənɪŋli/. The first syllable is stressed, indicated by the apostrophe. The word is spelled using the common English spelling pattern for words ending in "-ing", with the suffix "-ly" added to create an adverb. The "gh" in "frighteningly" is silent, a common feature in English spelling which can make words difficult to pronounce correctly. "Frighteningly" means something causing fear or alarm, intensifying the emotion associated with the related verb "frighten."
Frighteningly is an adverb that describes an action, event, or situation that is filled with fear, causing extreme terror or apprehension. It emphasizes the overwhelming and alarming nature of something, often indicating that the subject is disturbingly or shockingly scary.
In simpler terms, when something is described as "frighteningly," it suggests that it is extremely terrifying or causing excessive fear. This adverb underscores the intensity and dread associated with the action or situation under discussion.
For example, imagine a horror movie where the main character is being pursued by a serial killer. The chase scene could be described as "frighteningly intense," conveying the extreme terror and suspense experienced by the character and potentially the audience.
Additionally, "frighteningly" can be used to amplify the negative impact of a situation or event. For instance, if a news report describes a city being hit by a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, it might emphasize the destructive power of the storm by stating that it was "frighteningly destructive," stressing the severe and devastating consequences.
Overall, "frighteningly" is an adverb that intensifies the fearfulness, dread, or scariness associated with an action, event, or situation, highlighting its shocking, alarming, or terrifying nature.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word frighteningly is derived from the base word frighten, which in turn comes from the Middle English word frightnen, meaning to frighten. This Middle English term originates from the Old English word fyhtan or fyhtan, which also meant to frighten. The -ingly suffix added to the base word follows the pattern of forming adverbs in English, indicating how an action is performed. Therefore, frighteningly means in a manner that causes fear or terror.