Belligerently

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In an aggressive and confrontational manner, displaying a tendency towards hostility or readiness for conflict
2. Exhibiting a disposition marked by combativeness and a willingness to argue or provoke
3. With an attitude that challenges or provokes others, showing readiness to fight or argue

Etymology: "Belligerently" is simply "belligerent" plus the adverbial ending "-ly," and the adjective it rests on comes straight from Latin. "Belligerent" was formed from "belligerare," meaning "to wage war," itself built from "bellum" (war) and "gerere" (to wage or carry on). The sense of waging war is still visible in the modern word, which describes someone ready to fight rather than simply someone who has fought. The adverb is one of the older layers of English. The ending "-ly" descends from Old English "-līċe," which was attached to adjectives to make adverbs of manner, so "belligerently" means "in a belligerent manner" in exactly the way "quickly" means "in a quick manner." The suffix is itself related to the word "like," so each "-ly" carries a faint trace of the idea of resemblance.

Synonyms: aggressively, hostilely, pugnaciously, war-like, threateningly

Antonyms: peacefully, calmly, amicably, friendly, nonchalantly