Hermaphroditically

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. A way of existing that showcases traits of both genders in reproductive systems
2. A state of being that includes elements from both male and female reproductive features
3. A manner of being that embodies characteristics associated with both male and female reproductive structures

Etymology: "Hermaphroditically" is simply "hermaphroditic" with the adverbial ending "-ally" added. The adjective "hermaphroditic" is itself built on "hermaphrodite," which comes from Hermaphroditus, the son of the Greek gods Hermes and Aphrodite. In the myth, Hermaphroditus merged with a nymph, Salmacis, into a single body with both male and female characteristics, which is why the name came to describe organisms possessing both sexes. The suffix "-ally" turns an adjective ending in "-ic" into an adverb, so the word describes doing something in a hermaphroditic manner, or in a way that involves both sexes. Its formation is entirely regular, which is why it is less common than its adjective, though it appears in biological and descriptive writing.