† 1. a. Abnormally, eccentrically, irregularly. b. Lawlessly, criminally, immorally. Obs.
1617. Hieron, Wks., II. 289. He, that preacheth most enormously, professeth the cleane contrarie.
a. 1612. Donne, Βιαθανατος (1644), 94. There Bull-baytings, to which they are so enormously addicted.
1686. Boyle, Enq. Notion Nat., 260. From which the monster does enormously deviate.
1689. Myst. Iniq., 20. Popery … provides for their living as enormously as they please.
1713. Derham, Phys. Theol. (1786), I. 408. Had man’s body been made … too enormously gigantic, it would [etc.].
2. To a vast extent; vastly, hugely, prodigiously.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth (1723), 62 (J.). Epicurus, who could ever espouse a Notion so enormously absurd, and groundless, as that the World was framed by Chance.
1741–2. Walpole, Lett. H. Mann (1834), I. xviii. 66. It will be enormously long, but I have prepared you for it.
1797. Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. VIII. 381. The rise in the last year … is enormously out of all proportion.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. § 20. 338. The alleged temperature was so enormously below the freezing point.
1867. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 306. The city [Boston] has increased enormously in five-and-twenty years.
