Meanings
comparative more devoutly · superlative most devoutly
- In a devout manner.
She probably even believed she was a Roman Catholic. But what she really was, deeply and devoutly, was a superstitionist.
2012, Nick Tosches, Me and the Devil: A Novel, →ISBN5 more examples
[…] I did espie Where towards me a sory wight did cost*, Clad all in black, that mourning did bewray, And Iacob staffe in hand devoutly crost, Like to some pilgrim come from farre away.
1591, Edmund Spenser, The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5" Without further parley, upon their knees they fell most devoutly, and for helpe on heaven never ceased extensively to intercessionate God, for his speedie recoverie.
1594, Thomas Nash, “The Terrors of the Night”, in Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, volume I, published 1807, →OCLC, page 270He had no vague false notions of beginning fires in November, and ending them in May; but had arrived at the philosophical conclusion, that there are very few evenings, in all the year, that a fire is not a consummation of domestic felicity in England most devoutly to be wished.
1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Influence of the Dead”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 271Or on the mat devoutly kneeling, Would lift her eyes up to the ceiling, And heave her bosom unaware For neighbouring beaux to see it bare.
1716, Jonathan Swift, Phyllis, or the Progress of LoveAfter receiving a call in March of 1984, her devoutly Catholic parents followed the telephoner's advice of seeking help, speaking with a priest and two male psychiatrists.
1985 December 21, Laurie Sherman, “Lesbian Students' Parents Getting Anonymous Calls”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 23, page 1
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbin a devout and pious manner
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latindēvoveō
- Ecclesiastical Latindēvōtu
- Old Frenchdevot
- Middle Englishdevout
- Englishdevout
- Englishdevoutly
Translations
German andächtig
- andächtig1. In a devout manner
Cite this entry
devoutly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/devoutly
“devoutly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/devoutly. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “devoutly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/devoutly.
Source: devoutly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.