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profusely

US/pɹəˈfjusli/
adverbC1Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #11,880 of 15,258neutral

Profusely means in such abundance that it pours out unchecked. Sweat, blood, thanks or apologies.

It attaches to a small and oddly specific set of verbs, since bleeding profusely, sweating profusely, apologising profusely and thanking somebody profusely account for nearly every use of the word. The first two are physical and the last two are social, and all four involve more than would be expected. The adjective profuse is far rarer, and profusion means an abundance.

Definitions of profusely

  1. 1adverbprofuselyIn large amounts, flowing or given freely.C1

    “He apologised profusely and offered to pay.”

Where it comes from

  1. Proto-Indo-European

    *per-

  2. Latin

    profusus

  3. English

    profuse

  4. English, today

    profusely

From profuse + -ly. profuse comes from Latin profusus.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 9 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word

profusely in the wild

  • The text exists in several variant Latin versions, the manuscripts of which are profusely illustrated.

    Tacuinum Sanitatis

  • In late summer to early spring, the large, bell-shaped flowers are borne profusely and singly along the stems with bright green, violet, or purple in colors.

    Cobaea

  • Stitch is referenced when it is discovered Angela Lyne has been drinking profusely.

    Mrs. Stitch

  • The book is hardback, coffee-table sized and is profusely illustrated.

    Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead (book)

  • Myadaung Monastery was located 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Mandalay Palace, and was profusely carved and gilded in gold.

    Myadaung Monastery

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

the profusus family

profusely

profusely — used about once every 10,786 pages · #11,880 · point at the bar for the others