Contrastingly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that underscores distinctions between differing elements
2. By emphasizing the variances or oppositional traits of objects or concepts
3. In a manner that draws attention to how two or more things differ from each other

Etymology: "Contrastingly" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "contrasting" with the adverb-forming suffix "-ly" added to the end. The adjective itself comes from the verb "contrast," which entered English through French from Latin "contrastare," meaning "to stand against," built from "contra" ("against") and "stare" ("to stand"). The suffix did most of the work over the centuries. "-ly" descends from Old English "-līċe," a word meaning "in the manner of" or "like," which was itself built from "līc," meaning "body" or "form." So "contrastingly" literally means "in a contrasting manner," with the ending carrying an old sense of shape or appearance. The "-ing" in "contrasting" is an older suffix that passed through Middle English and Old English as "-ende," which was used to form participial adjectives from verbs. Put together, the word describes actions or qualities that set things against one another in a way that highlights their differences.

Synonyms: differently, oppositely, disparately