REALLY
very, really, real, rattling
(adverb) used as intensifiers; ârealâ is sometimes used informally for âreallyâ; ârattlingâ is informal; âshe was very giftedâ; âhe played very wellâ; âa really enjoyable eveningâ; âIâm real sorry about itâ; âa rattling good yarnâ
truly, genuinely, really
(adverb) in accordance with truth or fact or reality; âshe was now truly Americanâ; âa genuinely open societyâ; âthey donât really listen to usâ
actually, really
(adverb) in actual fact; âto be nominally but not actually independentâ; âno one actually saw the sharkâ; âlarge meteorites actually come from the asteroid beltâ
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Adverb
really (comparative more really, superlative most really)
(literal) In a way or manner that is real, not unreal.
(modal) Actually; in fact; in reality.
(informal, as an intensifier) Very (modifying an adjective); very much (modifying a verb).
Usage notes
• Like its synonyms, really is, in practice, often used to preface an opinion, rather than a fact. (See also usage notes for actually.)
Increasingly people are recognising what's really important is having children.
Synonyms
• (actually): actually, in fact, indeed, truly; see also actually
• (colloquial, as an intensifier): so
Interjection
really
Indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information; to express skepticism.
(colloquial, sarcastic, typically exaggerated question.) Indicating that what was just said was obvious and unnecessary; contrived incredulity
(colloquial, chiefly, US) Indicating affirmation, agreement.
Indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour or statement.
Synonyms
• (contrived incredulity, or in ironic / sarcastic sense): you don't say, no kidding, oh really, no really
Etymology 2
Verb
really (third-person singular simple present reallies, present participle reallying, simple past and past participle reallied)
Alternative form of re-ally
Anagrams
• rallye, y'all're, yaller
Source: Wiktionary
Re"-al*ly", v. t. Etym: [Pref. re- + ally, v. t.]
Definition: To bring together again; to compose or form anew. Spenser.
Re"al*ly`, adv.
Definition: Royally. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Re"al*ly, adv.
Definition: In a real manner; with or in reality; actually; in truth.
Whose anger is really but a short fit of madness. Swift.
Note: Really is often used familiarly as a slight corroboration of an
opinion or a declaration.
Why, really, sixty-five is somewhat old. Young.
REAL
Re"al, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. real royal, L. regalis. See Regal, and cf.
Ree a coin.]
Definition: A small Spanish silver coin; also, a denomination of money of
account, formerly the unit of the Spanish monetary system.
Note: A real of plate (coin) varied in value according to the time of
its coinage, from 12real vellon, or money of account, was nearly
equal to five cents, or 2
Re*al", a.
Definition: Royal; regal; kingly. [Obs.] "The blood real of Thebes."
Chaucer.
Re"al, a. Etym: [LL. realis, fr. L. res, rei, a thing: cf. F. réel.
Cf. Rebus.]
1. Actually being or existing; not fictitious or imaginary; as, a
description of real life.
Whereat I waked, and found Before mine eyes all real, as the dream
Had lively shadowed. Milton.
2. True; genuine; not artificial; counterfeit, or factitious; often
opposed to ostensible; as, the real reason; real Madeira wine; real
ginger.
Whose perfection far excelled Hers in all real dignity. Milton.
5. Relating to things, not to persons. [Obs.]
Many are perfect in men's humors that are not greatly capable of the
real part of business. Bacon.
4. (Alg.)
Definition: Having an assignable arithmetical or numerical value or
meaning; not imaginary.
5. (Law)
Definition: Pertaining to things fixed, permanent, or immovable, as to
lands and tenements; as, real property, in distinction from personal
or movable property. Chattels real (Law), such chattels as are
annexed to, or savor of, the realty, as terms for years of land. See
Chattel.
– Real action (Law), an action for the recovery of real property.
– Real assets (Law), lands or real estate in the hands of the heir,
chargeable with the debts of the ancestor.
– Real composition (Eccl. Law), an agreement made between the owner
of lands and the parson or vicar, with consent of the ordinary, that
such lands shall be discharged from payment of tithes, in consequence
of other land or recompense given to the parson in lieu and
satisfaction thereof. Blackstone.
– Real estate or property, lands, tenements, and hereditaments;
freehold interests in landed property; property in houses and land.
Kent. Burrill.
– Real presence (R. C. Ch.), the actual presence of the body and
blood of Christ in the eucharist, or the conversion of the substance
of the bread and wine into the real body and blood of Christ;
transubstantiation. In other churches there is a belief in a form of
real presence, not however in the sense of transubstantiation.
– Real servitude, called also Predial servitude (Civil Law), a
burden imposed upon one estate in favor of another estate of another
proprietor. Erskine. Bouvier.
Syn.
– Actual; true; genuine; authentic.
– Real, Actual. Real represents a thing to be a substantive
existence; as, a real, not imaginary, occurrence. Actual refers to it
as acted or performed; and, hence, when we wish to prove a thing
real, we often say, "It actually exists," "It has actually been
done." Thus its really is shown by its actually. Actual, from this
reference to being acted, has recently received a new signification,
namely, present; as, the actual posture of affairs; since what is now
in action, or going on, has, of course, a present existence. An
actual fact; a real sentiment.
For he that but conceives a crime in thought, Contracts the danger of
an actual fault. Dryden.
Our simple ideas are all real; all agree to the reality of things.
Locke.
Re"al, n.
Definition: A realist. [Obs.] Burton.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition