Băd'ly, adv.

adv. [From bad.] In a bad manner; not well; unskillfully; grievously; unfortunately; imperfectly.

In some parts of this country, not by the vulgar alone, but by educated persons, the word badly is used for greatly. Instead of saying, “I wish greatly to see him,” they say, “I wish to see him very badly.” This is not only an error in language, but often becomes ridiculous, because the words seem to say of a friend, “I wish to see him in a very bad state of health,” &c.