Anywise

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈɛniˌwaɪz/

Definitions

1. In any form, manner, or extent possible, without limitation
2. By whatever means or methods possible, without restriction
3. Using any possible approach or fashion, in whatever way achievable

Etymology: "Anywise" is a plain compound: "any" plus "-wise," so its interest lies in the two halves rather than in any dramatic shift. "Any" descends from Old English "ǣnig," tracing back through Proto-Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root that also gave us "one" and "only" in a different form, which is why "any" and "one" share a distant family resemblance. The suffix "-wise" comes from Old English "wīs," meaning "manner" or "way," the same sense that survives in "likewise" and "otherwise." Put together, "anywise" means "in any way at all," and it has the same structure as "otherwise," where "other" and "-wise" combine to mean "in a different way." The suffix has been productive throughout English's history, producing words like "clockwise" and "lengthwise," but "anywise" belongs to the older, more literary end of that family, where "any" and "-wise" pair naturally to mean "by whatever means."

Synonyms: in any way, at all, in any respect, by any means, in any manner

Antonyms: not at all, never, in no way, nowhere, in no respect