adv. [f. prec. + -LY2.]
† 1. Of manner: a. Wastefully, lavishly, prodigally. b. Greedily. Obs.
1552. Huloet, Excessyuely … profuse.
1563. Golding, Cæsar (1565), 85. The beastes which the Galles do most delight in and whych they pay for excessiuely.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., II. xii. 3. Which having swallowd up excessively, He soone in vomit up againe doth lay.
2. In an excessive amount or degree; beyond measure, immoderately. (In mod. use a stronger expression than exceedingly.)
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 68. Whan any of his Lords schal happyn to be so excessively grete, as [etc.].
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. i. 167. He is excessyuely humylyed.
1591. Horsey, Trav. (Hakluyt Soc.), 192. He used me but rufflye, by reason I could not drincke excessivlie with him.
1634. H. R., Salerne Regim., 2. Anger … excessiuely chafeth and inflameth the membres.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. xxi. 271. A conceit there is that the Devill commonly appeareth with a cloven hoofe, wherein although it seeme excessively ridiculous there may be somewhat of truth.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 145, ¶ 6. The Fellow is rich … but excessively ill-bred.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), 63. It makes them smart and burn excessively.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 80. There came forth from it nothing but smoke … at which he wondered excessively.
1877. Lady Brassey, Voy. in ‘Sunbeam,’ xxii. (1878), 378. The scenery seemed of an excessively rudimentary description.
