Downright

Examples

• I think so, Mas'r, said Tom; the poor crittur's sick and feeble; 't would be downright cruel, and it's what I never will do, nor begin to. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
• I am brimful of downright questions; and I expect you to be brimful of downright answers. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• Deep, downright, faithful earnestness. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
• The girl's state was, to my thinking, downright alarming--and my mistress ought to be informed of it. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• But woe betide the one who has committed an act of bad faith, treachery, dishonesty, or ingratitude; THEN Edison can show what it is for a strong man to get downright mad. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
• There's weakness--there's downright ruin in all this. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• But there's the teabell,--do let's go,--and don't say, now, I haven't had one downright serious talk, for once in my life. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
• There is nothing the lower orders like better than a little downright good-humoured rating. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• Must I listen coolly to downright nonsense--to dangerous nonsense? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• Must I at length love her downright, Cary? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• For a space he will be vain, probably a downright puppy, eager for pleasure and desirous of admiration, athirst, too, for knowledge. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• Terror seemed to have struck him with downright idiocy--he waited at my heels, he followed me about when I moved like a dog. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
• Miss Halcombe cut the knot of the little embarrassment forthwith, in her resolute, downright way. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
• I wouldn't give a fig for all your politics, generally, but I think this is something downright cruel and unchristian. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
• Upon my honour I believe he is downright in love with you. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
• Don't long for poison--don't turn out a downright Eve on my hands! Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
• Their victims attempt to resist; they are driven mad by the stings of the drones, and so become downright oligarchs in self-defence. Plato. The Republic.
• And worshipping you downright. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• I have seen the necessity of doing good; I have learned the downright folly of being selfish. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• Oh, it's worse than foolish; it's downright sneaking, you know,' replied Lowten, nibbing the pen with a contemptuous face. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
• His jealousy was downright selfishness; for he would be jealous of my pianoforte, if that instrument amused me. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
• It is downright labour to him where ladies are concerned. Jane Austen. Emma.
• But, Mr. Knightley, are you perfectly sure that she has absolutely and downright _accepted_ him. Jane Austen. Emma.
• He was hardly fool enough to drive me to downright desperation. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
• Their strength lay in the fact that they were unencumbered and downright. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• I am a downright man, and I repeat it. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
• At first it was downright dulness to Emma. Jane Austen. Emma.

Edited by Alexander