punitively en · ADV
Etymology
Etymology tree English punitive 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 punitively From punitive + -ly.
Meanings
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In a punitive manner.
Hospital staff or caretaking relatives may find sexual concerns humorous, disgusting, embarrassing; they are bound to react punitively to any signs of homosexuality or affectational same-sex relationship.
1983 December 10, Nancy A. F. Langer, “Different Abilities, Same Queer Pleasures”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 21, page 8:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more punitively | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most punitively | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |