a. (adv.) slang, chiefly U. S. Aphetic dial. pronunciation of eternal, vulgarly used as an expression of execration, passing into a mere intensive: cf. ETERNAL a. 7. Hence Tarnally adv.
1790. R. Tyler, Contrast, II. ii. (1887), 39. The snarl-headed curs fell a-kicking and cursing of me at such a tarnal rate, that … I was glad to take to my heels. Ibid., 90. Laugh by rule! Well, I should like that tarnally.
a. 1821. [J. W. Masters], Dick & Sal, lxii. (E. D. D.). Dare was a tarnal sight of meat.
1828. Craven Gloss., Tarnal, eternal.
1848. Lowell, Biglow P., II. 72. I darsn’t skeer the tarnal thing fer fear he’d run away with ’t.
1893. Valerie H. Berry, Jane’s Holiday, in Lippincott’s Mag., LII. Aug., 237. Thar’s to be a nanimal show, where every tarnal beast you ever heerd on is on ex-er-bition.
