defensively en · ADV
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /dɪˈfɛnsɪvli/ (UK)
Etymology
Etymology tree English defensive Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English defensively From defensive + -ly.
Meanings
-
In a defensive manner.
England, defensively, were not good enough - nowhere near the standard that would be acceptable at the highest international level.
2019 September 10, Phil McNulty, “'England horribly fallible in defence' against Kosovo in Euro 2020 qualifying”, in BBC Sport:It's fine. I think I could be ... semitarian, maybe? Half vegetarian? It's a thing,' he adds, a little defensively
2020, Sophie Kinsella, Love Your Life, Random House:This is a particularly disruptive tactic if the opponent also prefers an offensive style and has difficulty fighting defensively or counteroffensively.
1993, Black Belt, volume 31, number 1, page 48:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| defencively | alternative, archaic, nonstandard | lexicographic | |
| more defensively | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most defensively | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Translations (9)
fr défensivement (in a defensive manner) · it difensivamente (in a defensive manner) · es defensivamente (in a defensive manner) · pt defensivamente (in a defensive manner) · el αμυντικά (in a defensive manner) · fi puolustavasti (in a defensive manner) · cs defenzivně (in a defensive manner) · fi puolustuksellisesti (in a defensive manner) · ca defensivament (in a defensive manner)