Abundantly

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /əˈbʌn.dn̩t.li/

Definitions

1. Present in large quantities or to a great degree; plentifully or copiously supplied
2. In a manner that signifies a great abundance or excess in quantity
3. characterized by richness or overflowing provision in various aspects of life

Etymology: "Abundantly" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "abundant" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" attached. "Abundant" itself came into English from Latin "abundans," the present participle of "abundare," meaning "to overflow" or "to be plentiful," built from "ab-" (away, from) and "undare" (to surge, as of water), a root connected to "unda," a wave. The image is of water spilling over the edge of a vessel, which is why plenty and overflow share a single idea. Middle English speakers formed "abundantly" by joining the adjective to "-ly," and the word appeared in several spellings, including "habundantly" and "abundauntli," before the modern form settled. The adverb thus describes doing something in a way that overflows, so that a thing done "abundantly" is done to the point of excess rather than merely enough.

Synonyms: plentifully, amply, copiously, profusely, generously

Antonyms: scarcely, meagerly, insufficiently, poorly, sparsely