Considerately

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a fashion that indicates a mindful approach to the feelings of others
2. In a way that shows awareness and respect for others' feelings and needs
3. Performing actions while carefully taking into account how they affect other people

Etymology: "Considerately" is simply "considerate" with the adverbial ending "-ly" attached, so the interesting part lies in the older suffix. The ending traces back through Old English "-līce" and a Proto-Germanic form "*-līkō" to a root meaning "body" or "form," which is also the source of the English word "like" in its sense of "similar." In other words, the "-ly" in "considerately" is distantly related to "like," the same idea of resemblance that once meant "having the form of." The base word "considerate" comes from the Latin "consideratus," the past participle of "considerare," meaning "to observe closely" or "to reflect upon." That Latin verb is the root of "consider," so a considerate person is literally one who has looked carefully at a situation before acting. The "con-" prefix intensifies the sense of studying something attentively. The adverb took its present form by adding "-ly" to the adjective, producing a word that describes doing something in a manner characterized by thoughtfulness toward others.

Synonyms: thoughtfully, kindly, attentively, cordially, considerably

Antonyms: inconsiderately, thoughtlessly