Peripherally

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that pertains to the boundaries or outskirts of a matter
2. Relating to elements that are on the fringe rather than the core yet still significant
3. Acting or occurring at the outer limits or edges ; occurring in a way that is not central but somewhat related to the main point

Etymology: Peripherally is an adverb built from "peripheral" plus the suffix "-ly," so the story really belongs to the adjective beneath it. That adjective descends from Ancient Greek "periphéreia," a noun formed from "perí" ("around") and "phérō" ("to carry" or "bear"). Put together, the idea is something carried around the outside of a thing, and "periphéreia" was used for the circumference of a circle. The Greek word passed into Latin as "peripheria" and then into French as "périphérie," before reaching English. Along the way the sense shifted from a literal circular boundary toward any outer edge or margin. The Greek noun was itself built from "periphérēs," meaning "carrying around," which shows how the same root idea of revolving or surrounding persisted across centuries. English later added the suffix "-al," turning the noun into the adjective "peripheral," which came to describe things lying at the edge rather than at the centre. Adding "-ly" then produced the adverb, so "peripherally" describes matters that touch the edges of a subject yet still matter.

Synonyms: marginally, secondarily

Antonyms: centrally, directly