When Was Bigly Added to the Dictionary?

historical usage of bigly
Adding the suffix -ly is a thoroughly standard way to form an adverb from an adjective. However, although bigly was in use from about 1400 to the early 1900s, it never quite caught on in English, perhaps because the adjective big also quite adequately functions as an adverb: to win big.

Is Bigly in the dictionary?

The US reference book company Merriam-Webster agrees that "bigly" is a word. "Yes, 'bigly' is in the dictionary," it tweeted after the debate. It defines "bigly" as an adverb meaning "in a big manner" or, archaically, "in a swelling blustering manner".

When was the word Bigly created?

Neither “big” nor “bigly” existed in Old English (spoken ca. 1150 and earlier), so it must be a later addition. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “bigly” was used as early as the last decades of the fourteenth century, and perhaps even earlier.

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.