Coherently

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a style that presents ideas in a clear, logical, and concise manner
2. In a way that ensures thoughts are expressed clearly and logically, forming a unified understanding
3. In a way that presents ideas clearly and in logical connection

Etymology: "Coherently" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "coherent" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" added. The adjective itself came into English from Middle French "coherent", which in turn descends from Latin "cohaerens", the present participle of "cohaerere", meaning "to stick together." That verb is built from "con-", "together", and "haerere", "to stick" or "to cling," so the core image is of things adhering to one another. The suffix has a longer history than the adjective. It descends from Proto-Germanic "-līkō", a formation tied to the word for "body" or "form," and it passed through Old English "-līce" and Middle English "-ly" before becoming the regular English marker of manner. Adding it to "coherent" simply turns the quality of ideas holding together into a description of how something is said or argued.

Synonyms: logically, consistently, clearly, articulately, rationally

Antonyms: incoherently, confusedly, illogically, disjointedly, ambiguously