Handedly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Characterized by having a particular influence or impact, especially in a significant or marked manner
2. denoting the execution of an action with one hand or a distinct method
3. indicating an approach taken that is notable for its effectiveness or ease

Etymology: "Handedly" is a plain English formation: the adjective "handed", meaning done with a hand or hands in a particular way, plus the adverb suffix "-ly". The adjective "handed" itself comes from "hand", which descends from Old English "hand" and goes back to Proto-Germanic "*handuz". The "-ed" ending on "handed" is an old suffix that turns a noun into an adjective describing something possessed or characterised by it, as in "one-handed" or "open-handed". The suffix "-ly" has a longer history. It descends from Old English "-līċe", which was itself built on "līc", meaning body or form, so the ending originally carried the sense of "in the manner of" or "in the form of" something. Over the centuries it became the standard way to turn adjectives into adverbs, and "handedly" follows that pattern directly.