Distributively

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Referring to a manner in which operations apply across terms separately
2. Describing a property where functions or actions are applied independently to each component
3. Characterizing a rule that allows individual treatment of elements in mathematical expressions

Etymology: "Distributively" is a plain formation: the adjective "distributive" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" added. The adjective itself comes from the Latin verb "distribuere", "to divide up, allot", which combined "dis-" (apart) with "tribuere" (to assign). Its roots reach back through the Proto-Indo-European root ""leyg-", a word for something like "leave" or "let go", though the suffix that matters most is "-ly". The suffix has a long history of its own. It descends from a Proto-Germanic form ""-līkaz", meaning "body-like" or "having the form of", which is also the source of the English word "like". Over the centuries this became Old English "-līċe" and then Middle English "-ly", so "distributively" is essentially "in a distributive manner", with "-ly" carrying the sense of manner.

Synonyms: dispersively