Equivalently

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that reflects equality in significance or value
2. In a manner that conveys identical meaning or produces the same result
3. Expressed such that two things are understood to be equal or interchangeable

Etymology: "Equivalently" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "equivalent" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" attached. The adjective came into English from Latin "aequivalens," a compound of "aequus," meaning equal, and "valere," meaning to be strong or have worth, so the word literally describes things of equal strength or value. The suffix has a longer history than the base word. The "-ly" ending descends from Old English "-līċe," which was itself built on a Proto-Germanic root meaning body or form, so that "-like" once meant "having the form of" before shrinking into a marker of manner. Middle English reduced it to "-ly," and English speakers have attached it to adjectives ever since, which is why "equivalently" means, in effect, "in an equivalent manner."

Synonyms: similarly, correspondingly

Antonyms: dissimilarly