Criminally for Dummies

Hey there! So, you want to know what the word "criminally" means? Well, let's start by breaking it down. You see, the word "criminally" comes from the root word "criminal," which is used to describe someone who has committed a crime or done something against the law.

Now, when we add "ly" to the end of the word "criminal," it changes its form into an adverb, which is like a superhero sidekick for verbs (action words). Adverbs are used to describe how an action is done or to give more information about it. So, "criminally" is an adverb that tells us how something was done in a criminal manner or relating to a crime.

Let's bring it to life with an example! Imagine you and a friend are playing a game of hide-and-seek, but your friend decides to cheat by peeking to find you. That action of peeking, in the context of the game, can be described as "criminally" because it goes against the rules and is not fair play. It's almost like your friend committed a small crime against the spirit of the game, right?

But wait! There's another definition of "criminally" that we should talk about. In addition to describing actions done in a criminal manner, "criminally" can also be used to emphasize that something is extremely wrong, outrageous, or deserving severe criticism or punishment.

Think of it this way: Imagine you have a favorite toy that you always take care of, but one day you find your little sibling chewing on it! Now, that act of chewing your toy is not actually a crime, but you could say it's "criminally" destructive because it's so incredibly wrong and disrespectful. It's like the chewing crossed a line that makes it almost as bad as a real crime against your beloved toy!

So, to sum it all up, "criminally" is an adverb that describes actions done in a criminal manner or things that are so extremely wrong or deserving of punishment. It's like a word that helps us understand and express how something goes against the rules, fairness, or goodness. Pretty cool, right?