Paltrily

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Characterized by a quality of being insignificant or trivial; lacking in value or substance; indicative of a meager or minimal contribution to a subject or matter
2. Signifying a state of being unimportant or of little worth; displaying a deficiency in richness or depth; representing a scant offering or minor significance in various contexts
3. Demonstrating a nature that is seen as inadequate or inconsequential; revealing a shortcoming in richness or significance; suggesting a limited or low impact on the situation at hand

Etymology: Paltrily is simply the adverb of paltry, formed by adding the suffix "-ly" to that adjective. It means in a meager or contemptibly small manner, as when someone is paid paltrily or offers a paltrily small gift. The base word carries the more interesting history. Paltry is an English adjective that once described cheap, worthless goods and trifling matters, and its roots are obscure, with no firmly established ancestor behind it. Because the adjective's own origin is unclear, the adverb inherits that uncertainty, and the -ly ending is the only part of its formation that can be stated with confidence.

Synonyms: meagerly, scantily, poorly, insignificantly, miserably

Antonyms: generously, abundantly, lavishly, plentifully, substantially