Openly

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈoʊpənli/

Definitions

1. Done without secrecy or concealment; in a frank and honest manner
2. In a manner marked by a lack of deceit or hidden agendas, exhibiting transparency and straightforwardness in communication
3. In a way that shows no attempt to hide thoughts or feelings

Etymology: Openly is about as plain as adverbs get: it is the adjective "open" with the suffix "-ly" added, a pattern English has used for centuries to turn adjectives into manner adverbs. The adverb descends from Middle English "openli", which came from Old English "openlīċe", a form built on the same stem as the adjective "open" and the ending "-līċe", the ancestor of "-ly". So the word has been changing its shape rather than its sense for a very long time, and its core idea of something being exposed to view or not concealed has stayed close to the original.

Synonyms: publicly, frankly, honestly, candidly, blatantly

Antonyms: secretly, covertly, privately, discreetly, clandestinely