† 1. To the uttermost degree; in or with a very great degree of some quality, esp. severity. Obs.
1532. Frith, Mirror, iii. (1626), 43. That thy negligence … be not … extreamly imputed unto thee.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1684), III. 832/1. He was extreamly racked, within half a finger breadth as far as Anne Askew.
1661. Pepys, Diary, 2 Nov. I did extremely beat him.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 250. It must be extreamly beaten, which will break all the knots of Lime.
1709. Swift, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 340. A sine-cure … which would fitt me extremely.
1819. Byron, Juan, I. lxxvi. She … look’d extremely at the opening door.
† b. To be extremely in (superfluity, etc.): to be in state of extreme (superfluity, etc.). Obs.
1562. Bulleyn, Def. agst. Sickness, 51 a. Twoo humours, equall aboundyng together, extremely in superfluite.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 98/1. She was a Widow (without any Portion or Dowry) extreamly in want.
2. In an extreme degree; exceedingly, very much.
a. with vbs. Now somewhat rare.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 122. You must not suffer your horse to drinke after his iourney, till he be colde: howbeit, if he sweate not to extremely … it is not so daungerous.
1607. Shaks., Timon, III. ii. 14. One of his men … vrg’d extreamly for’t … and yet was deny’de.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 19. The Seas sweld extremely.
1711. Wallis, in J. Greenwood, Eng. Gram., Pref. 31. Many who stuttered extreamly.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 121. The cause of the cohesion of matter has extremely perplexed philosophers.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 85. The king was extremely astonished.
b. with adjs., pples. or advbs.
1540–54. Croke, xiii. Ps. (Percy Soc.), 11. I am made feble like a wretch, Extremely croked, backe and bone.
1638. Rouse, Heav. Univ., Advt. (1702), 3. It was so extreamly dangerous.
1644. Milton, Educ. If wise Men and Prophets be not extreamly out.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. iii. (1869), I. 21. The Mediterranean was extremely favourable to the infant navigation of the world.
1808. Han. More, Cœlebs, v. (1809), I. 55. They … used the strongest terms…. They were extremely glad, and extremely sorry.
1889. Sat. Rev., 23 March, 335/1. Only an extremely strong and an extremely cool man could make the beating adequate to the offence.
