darkly
dark·ly/ˈdɑɹkli/adverb, adjective
darkly is spelled D-A-R-K-L-Y: 6 letters and 2 syllables (dark·ly). It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 30,017th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adverb, darkly means “With insufficient light for easy discernment or comprehension” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in darkly?
| Letters | 6: D-A-R-K-L-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: dark·ly |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 30,017th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is darkly?
Darkly appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 30,017th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce darkly?
- UK /ˈdɑːkli/
- US /ˈdɑɹkli/
Darkly has 2 syllables, split dark·ly in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-darkly.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of darkly
- darklier comparative
- more darkly comparative
- darkliest superlative
- most darkly superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does darkly mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adverb
- 1
With insufficient light for easy discernment or comprehension.
I could make out his image darkly.
- 2
With a dark appearance.
- 3
In a manner which is not readily visible or noticeable; inconspicuously.
- 4
In a manner which retards or prevents discernment; clandestinely.
- 5
In a manner which is difficult to understand, or which retards or prevents understanding; incomprehensibly.
- 6
In a manner which tends to produce uncertainty or confusion; bewilderingly.
- 7
In a manner which produces an inward conviction of future misfortune; ominously.
- 8
In a morbid manner; morbidly, sinisterly.
a darkly comic dystopian drama
adjective
- 1
Relating to darkness or obscurity.
A Scanner Darkly
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Darkly in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | obscurément, sombrement , mystérieusement |
| Spanish | misteriosamente |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does darkly come from?
From Middle English derkly, derkely, derkliche, derkeliche; equivalent to dark + -ly. Compare Old English deorclīċe, a parallel formation.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).