What does besottedly mean?
Besottedly is an adverb meaning in an excessively devoted, infatuated, or doting manner. It typically describes a person whose affection or fascination has become unusually strong, often to the point of irrationality: “He was besottedly in love with her.” The word carries a literary and somewhat old-fashioned flavor, so it is less common in ordinary conversation than everyday alternatives such as madly, devotedly, or obsessively. Its connotations can be affectionate, as when it emphasizes deep devotion, but they can also suggest infatuation, emotional excess, or a loss of perspective. Besottedly is usually figurative: although it developed from language connected with drunkenness, its modern use almost always concerns love, admiration, or obsessive fascination rather than literal intoxication. Because of its vivid implication and slightly elevated tone, it is especially effective in descriptive prose, historical writing, and memorable speech. It remains understandable and usable in modern British and American English, although a plainer adverb may be preferable in casual or neutral contexts.
adverbIn an excessively devoted, infatuated, or doting manner.
- In an excessively devoted, infatuated, or doting manner.
"She remained besottedly devoted to her family despite the hardships they had endured."
"Her narration lingered besottedly on every detail of the house."
"He was besottedly in love with the woman who had captured his imagination."
Its family tree begins with a joke about drink: a “sot” was a drunkard, so being “besotted” originally meant being befuddled by drink before the word came to describe doting affection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does besottedly come from?
Besottedly was formed by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to the adjective besotted. Besotted in turn combines the prefix be- with sotted, a form related to sot, an old word for a drunkard or foolish person. The family originally referred to being confused or overcome by drink, but the adjective developed a figurative sense of being doting or infatuated, from which the modern adverbial meaning follows.
Related word forms
How besottedly is actually used
This is a literary, somewhat old-fashioned adverb with an elevated tone. It is usually figurative and can convey either affectionate devotion or emotional excess, depending on context.