Dictionary

pacifically en · ADV

Etymology

Etymology tree English pacific Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al Middle English -ly Middle English -ally English -ally English pacifically From pacific + -ally.

Meanings

1. In a calm or quiet manner.
   • The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist on the Essex marshes was like a gauzy and radiant fabric, hung from the wooded rises inland, and draping the low shores in diaphanous folds. 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 194:
2. In a soothing manner.
   • To arrange and compose pacifically, the differences which may arise between the Federal States; and, should the same not succeed, to point out to the Supreme Chief the measures which should be adopted to re-establish peace and harmony […] 1828, British and Foreign State Papers, page 962:

Forms

Synonyms

calmly (in a calm manner) · quietly (in a calm manner) · mildly (in a calm manner) · soothingly (in a soothing manner)