Meanings
animally1
comparative more animally · superlative most animally
- Resembling or characteristic of an animal.
There were, besides the pleasant fruity smells, a number of vile, animally smells that one could easily make from simple ingredients or extract from plants.
2001, Oliver Sacks, Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood
animally2
comparative more animally · superlative most animally
- In respect of the physical or "animal" faculties, as opposed to the intellect or spirit.
'Cosmic emotion' inevitably takes them in the form of enthusiasm and freedom. I speak not only of those who are animally happy.
1902, William James, “Lectures IV and V: The Religion of Healthy-mindedness”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 79 - obsoleteIn respect of the anima or animal spirits.
Origin
animally · adjective
- Latinanimālis
- Latinanimal
- Old Frenchanima
- Middle Englishanimal
- Englishanimal
- Englishanimally
animally · adverb
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂enh₁-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂enh₁mos
- Proto-Italic*anamos
- Latinanimus
- Latinanima
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
- Latinanimālis
- Middle Englishanimal
- Englishanimal
- Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
- Proto-Germanic*līką
- Englishanimally
Translations
Finnish eläimellisesti
- eläimellisestiin respect of the animal faculties
Portuguese animalmente
- animalmentein respect of the animal faculties
Spanish animalmente
- animalmentein respect of the animal faculties
Cite this entry
animally. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/animally
“animally.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/animally. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “animally,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/animally.
Source: animally on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.