Colourlessly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a fashion that demonstrates an absence of any pigment or tint
2. In a manner that lacks any hue, shade, or brightness
3. Expressed in a way that shows no pigmentation or colorful quality

Etymology: "Colourlessly" is simply "colourless" with the adverbial ending "-ly" attached, and both parts are old English material. The first element goes back to Latin "color", which reached English through Anglo-Norman and Old French and became "colour" in Middle English. The second element, "-less", descends from Old English "-lēas", meaning "without", so "colourless" literally means "without colour." The "-ly" ending comes from Old English "-līċe", which turned adjectives into adverbs describing manner, so "colourlessly" describes doing something in a colourless way. The word is a transparent formation, built by adding familiar pieces together rather than borrowed whole from another language.

Synonyms: drably, dully

Antonyms: vividly, vibrantly