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Glite Dictionary
carnally

carnally

1 9.2
In a sexual way that involves physical desire or activity
  • adverb
  • /ˈkɑrnəli/
  • NSFW
translation icon : carnalmente
  • It had all begun shortly after the incredibly sad and guilt-ridden breakup with Betty, with whom I had gotten deeply involved, including carnally, despite never having really loved her.
  • known each other carnally

Examples

  • Carson quotes Thomas Cranmer, "figuratively, Christ is in the bread and wine, and spiritually he is in them that worthily eat and drink the bread and wine; but really, carnally, and corporally he is only in heaven, from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead." 53

    Blog text (8)

  • They had a strong connection that was both emotionally and carnally fulfilling.

  • Boldo and I had known each other, carnally, as they say, back in college, before he had gone to Divinity.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • And if you think about the wedding at Cana, if the wine ran out, the guests were probably already too drunk, and she was thinking carnally.

    Blog text (19)

  • For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

    Blog text (3)

  • Maybe we were scared, or maybe we'd determined that we'd known each other carnally in previous incarnations; that being so, what was the rush?

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Because to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life everlasting.

    Blog text (24)

  • Thinking back on that time, even now, so many years later, Eleanor could almost feel the bruise and ache of their lovemaking and be ashamed that she should have let herself be so carnally consumed.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The novel explored their carnally charged relationship with great detail.

  • He was drawn to her not just emotionally, but carnally as well.

Synonyms

sensually
vscarnally
  • NSFW
3 7.2

In a way that shows strong sexual attraction or physical pleasure

is about bodily sexual desire or acts rather than just feeling
lubriciously
vscarnally
  • Offensive
9.9

In a way that shows sexual interest and feels rude to others

is a general term for sexual desire or activity not lewd

Antonyms

spiritually
68 4.8

In a way that relates to your inner feelings or beliefs

ascetically
  • Formal
9.5

In a strict way that avoids comfort and luxury, often for religious reasons

Surface Forms

carnally positive

Morphology

carnally = carnal (transparent) = carnal + ly

The adverb is a straightforward derivation from the adjective 'carnal' with the regular adverbial suffix '-ly', so the meaning 'in a carnal manner' is directly predictable.

Etymology

Carnally comes from the Latin root carn- meaning 'flesh', the same root in carnivore, a word for an animal that eats meat. So, carnally means doing something 'in a physical, often sexual, way'.