Needlessly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that is devoid of necessity or purpose, often resulting in excessiveness
2. Conducted without essential reason or justification, usually leading to superfluous actions
3. In a manner lacking any real necessity or cause, often resulting in waste or excess

Etymology: "Needlessly" is a plain formation: the adjective "needless" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" added to it. The adjective itself comes from "need" and the suffix "-less," which meant "without" (the same "-less" as in "careless" or "endless"). So the word literally means "in a way that is without need." The root "need" is ancient and stable. It descends from an Old English noun "nēod," meaning necessity or compulsion, which shows up in Middle English as "nede." The suffix "-less" came from Old English "-lēas," which meant "free from" or "lacking," and it was attached to nouns and adjectives to form new adjectives. "Needless" appeared in Middle English as "nedeles," and its adverbial form, "nedelesly," followed the regular pattern of adding "-ly" (from Old English "-līce," "in the manner of") to adjectives. The adverb's meaning has stayed close to its origins. From the beginning it described actions done without necessity, and it still does. The word has not undergone any dramatic shift, so its history is mainly the gradual smoothing of the Middle English spelling into the modern form.

Synonyms: unnecessarily, pointlessly

Antonyms: purposefully, needfully