Blemishingly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that causes or shows marks, stains, or imperfections that detract from appearance or quality
2. Exhibiting characteristics that render something flawed or damaged in a visual or figurative sense
3. Acting or occurring in a way that impairs the perfect condition or reputation of a person or object

Etymology: "Blemishingly" is formed from the verb "blemish" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ingly," which turns a participle or verb stem into a manner adverb meaning "in a way that is" or "by means of." Each part has its own history: "blemish" came into English in the 14th century from Old French "blemir," meaning "to make pale or wan," and the sense of marking or spoiling something came later. The word's own sense of spoiling carries that older root of discoloration. The adverb itself is a rare formation. The suffix "-ingly" is productive and attaches readily to adjectives and participles, so forms like "blemishingly" can be coined as needed, but they are seldom found in edited writing. Dictionaries that record it generally do so as a derived form rather than as a word with a documented first use in a famous text.

Synonyms: flawfully, defectively, imperfectly, faultily, unsatisfactorily

Antonyms: perfectly, flawlessly, immaculately, excellently, ideally