criminently
English
Alternative forms
- crimenetly
- criminetly
Etymology
Probably formed by infixation of nonsense syllables into criminy.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkɹɪmɪnəntli/
- Hyphenation: crim‧i‧nent‧ly
Interjection
criminently
- (US) An expression of annoyance or surprise
- 1946, Odell Shepard, Holdfast Gaines, page 343:
- "Criminently!" Bean's voice rang out so that all the listening room could hear him. "They's baout thutty slant-eyed rats in hyar […] "
- 1985, Ray Bradbury, Death is a Lonely Business, page 198:
- "Criminently," said Crumley. "Look at the mob."
- 2005, Tennessee Williams, “The Big Game”, in Mister Paradise and other one-act plays, page 101:
- I wanta take a look at the stars! JOE [astonished]: At the stars! Criminently! Is that all?
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References
- Dwight Bolinger (1986) Intonation and its parts: melody in spoken English, →ISBN, page 86