adv. [f. prec. + -LY2.]
1. With fury, in a mad or frantic manner, to an irrational degree, madly.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 66. They furiousely cryed out againste him, and threatned him that he shulde passe no further.
c. 1610. Women Saints (E.E.T.S.), 46. The king raging at these wordes and full of concupiscence, furiouslie sayd vnto her [etc.].
1611. Bible, Ezek. xxiii. 25. And I will set my ielousie against thee, and they shall deale furiously with thee.
1751. Warburton, Julian (ed. 2), I. v. 99. An inference so furiously sceptical, as would overturn the whole Body of civil history.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 362. His scheme was enthusiastically applauded, and furiously attacked.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, ii. 18. I should rather like to fall in love with her, to see how furiously jealous you would become.
1890. Spectator, 11 Oct. Furiously interested classes.
2. With impetuous or boisterous motion or agitation; swiftly, violently, vehemently.
a. 1577. Gascoigne, Dan Barthol., Reporters Concl., xix. So staies the streame, when furiouslie it flouth.
1611. Bible, 2 Kings ix. 20. The driuing is like the driuing of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi; for he driueth furiously.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav., 391. The water … is furiously hot.
1700. S. L., trans. C. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 72. The Piece recoiled so furiously, and gave him such a knock on the shoulder, that down fell by Booby, and could hardly stir his Arm for a fortnight, or three weeks after it.
1758. Reid, trans. Macquer’s Chym., I. 279. The Phosphorus took fire, burnt furiously, and burst the vessels.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xvi. Perceiving his master beset, he came furiously to his aid.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, vi. Before the words had passed my lips, he rode upon me furiously.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog., vi. § 312. Here … the sea-breeze blows furiously.
1877. Lady Brassey, Voy. Sunbeam, xv. (1878), 269. Where the molten lava dashed up furiously against the rocks.
3. Excessively, ‘awfully.’ Cf. F. furieusement.
1822–56. De Quincey, Confess. (1862), 35. The lady of 1752 if living in 1800 must be furiously wrinkled.
