Nautically

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a fashion that involves the practices and skills of seafaring
2. In a way that pertains to the art and skill of sailing or operating ships
3. By applying knowledge or methods connected to marine navigation and life at sea

Etymology: "Nautically" is simply "nautic" with the adverbial ending "-ally" attached. The adjective "nautic" is the older base, taken into English from Latin "nauticus," which in turn came from Greek "nautikos," meaning "of ships or sailing," from "nautēs," a sailor. Behind that lies a very old root meaning "boat," which also gave us words like "naval" and "nausea," the latter from the seasickness of sailors. The ending does most of the work of turning the adjective into an adverb. It descends from an old Germanic suffix meaning "like" or "in the manner of," which passed through Old English and Middle English before settling into the "-ally" form. So "nautically" literally means "in a manner pertaining to ships and sailing," which fits the sense of doing something by the methods of seafaring. The word is a straightforward formation, and its meaning has stayed close to its original sense of the sea.

Synonyms: maritally