1. In a manner involving loss of life, as in To punish or accuse capitally.
1619. N. Brent, trans. Sarpi’s Hist. Counc. Trent (1676), 410. Those that are infected with Heresie, ought to be proceeded against capitally.
1695. Bp. Patrick, Comm. Gen., xlii. 15. He was punished capitally.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, I. v. 378. The people could not condemn, nor even try a man capitally.
1837. Thirlwall, Greece, IV. xxxv. 396. He was capitally impeached.
2. Fatally, seriously.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XV. c. 394. So capitally bad.
1741. Richardson, Pamela, II. 77. None but the Presumptuous, the Conceited, and the Thoughtless, err capitally.
1835. I. Taylor, Spir. Despot., ix. 376. Those who are capitally in fault.
3. Principally, mainly, eminently, in an important degree.
1786. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), I. 586. The commerce … so far as it depended on that article, which was very capitally too.
1836. Foster, in Life & Corr. (1846), II. 304. Capitally fantastic, witty, and brilliant.
4. Excellently, admirably.
1750. Warburton, Julian, Wks. 1811, VIII. 90. The action too was capitally interesting.
1810. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1842), 191. Miss Baillie’s play went off capitally here.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 331. You understand me capitally, Socrates.
5. In capital letters: in large characters.
1755. Young, Centaur, vi. Wks. IV. 259. In heaven’s … effort for our welfare, is capitally written the Dignity of Man.
