Tellingly: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from 'tell,' which means to reveal or inform, combined with the suffix '-ly' which indicates manner.
• The base 'tell' has roots in Old English, where it was used to mean 'to count' or 'to relate a story.'
• The '-ly' suffix is often added to adjectives to form adverbs, showing how an action is performed.

Literature

• In storytelling, using descriptive language can be tellingly effective, allowing readers to infer more from subtle hints.
• Authors often describe actions or settings in a tellingly manner to convey the mood without directly stating it.
• The adverb is often used in critical analyses of literature, highlighting how certain phrases reveal deeper meanings.

Communication

• Body language in conversations can reveal feelings tellingly, such as a nod or eye contact conveying agreement or interest.
• Effective political speeches often use tellingly crafted phrases that resonate emotionally with the audience.
• In nonverbal communication, actions often speak tellingly, indicating true feelings beyond spoken words.

Psychology

• Research in psychology suggests that people can identify emotions in voices tellingly, even without facial expressions.
• The way people phrase their opinions can be tellingly indicative of their underlying beliefs and attitudes.
• Tellingly, studies show that when emotions are expressed implicitly, they can have a stronger impact than explicit expressions.

Pop Culture

• In movies, the use of silence in certain scenes can be tellingly powerful, conveying tension or emotion without dialogue.
• Many famous quotes from films use the adverb to describe actions that unveil the character's true intentions or state of mind.
• Song lyrics often describe situations in a tellingly evocative way, allowing listeners to relate to unspoken feelings.

This word's position of #30,885 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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• 30882 dandruff
• 30883 misusing
• 30884 centaur
• 30885 tellingly
• 30886 extradited
• 30887 fulminating
• 30888 defamed
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