Groundlessly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Without valid justification or factual support in reasoning
2. Lacking any foundational evidence or logical backing for a claim
3. In a manner that lacks any supportive evidence or logical foundation

Etymology: "Groundlessly" is a plain build: the adverb of "groundless," formed by adding "-ly" to it. "Groundless" combines "ground" in the sense of a foundation or basis for belief with "-less," meaning "without." So something done groundlessly is done without any basis, whether that basis is evidence, reason, or a firm footing for a claim. The suffix carries the older history. The "-ly" ending descends from Old English "-līce," which turned adjectives into manner adverbs, and it traces back through Proto-Germanic "*-līkō" to a root meaning "body" or "form," which is why the suffix once meant "in the form of" or "in the manner of." The same ending turns "bodily" into an adverb and "lovely" into "lovelily"-type forms in older English. The "-less" part is the same kind of Germanic inheritance, so the whole word is built from native English pieces rather than borrowed material.

Synonyms: unjustifiably, without basis, irrationally, without reason, baselessly