Conversely

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /kənˈvɜːsli/

Definitions

1. In a contrasting manner, this term is used to indicate a relationship where one situation or fact is opposite to another situation or fact
2. This word expresses a shift in perspective that highlights the opposition between differing points or outcomes
3. It denotes the way in which an idea or statement is turned around to show an alternative viewpoint or contradiction

Etymology: "Conversely" is formed from "converse" plus the suffix "-ly". The adjective "converse" came into English from Latin "conversus", the past participle of "convertere", meaning "to turn around", so the root idea is of something turned about or reversed. Its adverbial sense, "in the opposite way", is simply the logical extension of that turning: when one thing is turned round, the other side faces you. The suffix "-ly" has a long pedigree of its own. It descends from Old English "-līċe", which was itself built on "līc", meaning "body" or "form", so that words like "wisely" once meant something like "in a wise form or manner". By the Middle English period it had shrunk to "-ly", and it has since been attached to thousands of adjectives to turn them into adverbs.

Synonyms: on the other hand, alternatively