purposelessly en · ADV
Etymology
Etymology tree English purposeless Middle English -ly English -ly English purposelessly From purposeless + -ly.
Meanings
-
In a purposeless manner; to no end; for no reason.
The sparse grey locks he combed were fewer and greyer: and though the accustomed mouth circle was as obdurately set as of old, his head waggled purposelessly: and his hands fumbled stiffly as he folded and replaced his pocket comb.
1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 216:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most purposelessly | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more purposelessly | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Translations (4)
eo sencele (in a purposeless manner) · mnc ᠮᡝᡴᡝᠯᡝ (in a purposeless manner) · yi סתּם (in a purposeless manner) · pl bezcelowo (in a purposeless manner)