Incompletely

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a partial or unfinished manner, lacking some necessary parts or aspects to be considered whole or thorough
2. In a manner that does not encompass all necessary components or details, resulting in a lack of fullness or completeness
3. In a way that is not fully developed or executed, missing essential elements or thoroughness

Etymology: "Incompletely" is a plain formation: the adjective "incomplete" with the adverb suffix "-ly" added to it. The adjective itself combines the negative prefix "in-" with "complete," which comes from Latin "completus," meaning "filled up" or "finished." The suffix has a longer history than the base words. It descends from a Proto-Germanic element "-līka-," which meant "having the form or appearance of," and that same element gave English words like "like" and the noun ending "-ly" in "friendly" and "lovely" in its adjectival use. Over the centuries the suffix wore down from its full form. In Old English it appeared as "-līce," which became Middle English "-ly," and from there it attached to adjectives to turn them into adverbs describing manner. "Incompletely" therefore describes doing something in the manner of something not finished, with the essential parts left out.

Synonyms: partially, unfinished

Antonyms: completely, totally