In a manner showing excessive or insincere flattery; in an obsequious or servile way.
From 'fawning' (present participle of 'fawn') plus the adverbial suffix '-ly,' which converts adjectives to adverbs. The '-ingly' construction is one of English's most productive adverb formations.
The '-ingly' suffix creates adverbs that describe manner with a hint of judgment—'fawningly' and 'grovellingly' and 'smugly' all carry emotional weight, suggesting the speaker's disapproval of the behavior being described.
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