Ineffectively

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that does not successfully accomplish the intended goals
2. Executed in such a way that does not yield the expected results
3. Done in a way that fails to achieve the intended outcome

Etymology: "Ineffectively" is a straightforward build: English "ineffective" with the adverb ending "-ly" attached. The adjective "ineffective" is itself English, made by adding the prefix "in-", meaning "not", to "effective," which came into English from Latin "effectivus," formed from "efficere," to bring about or accomplish. Breaking that down, "ex-" means "out" and "facere" means "to make or do," so the root sense is something like "to work something out into being." The "in-" prefix comes from Latin and simply negates the meaning, so "ineffective" describes something that fails to bring about a result. The final "-ly" is the Old English suffix "-līce," which turned adjectives into adverbs describing the manner of an action. Attaching it to "ineffective" gives a word for doing something in a way that produces no useful result.

Synonyms: ineffectually, unsuccessfully

Antonyms: effectively, successfully