Pricelessly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that is beyond monetary value and of immeasurable worth, conveying priceless quality or significance in actions or expressions
2. Expressing something done with such unique and invaluable importance that it cannot be assigned a financial cost or comparable measure
3. Characterizing an act or experience that holds extraordinary, incomparable value, defying standard estimation or conventional pricing systems

Etymology: "Pricelessly" is an inflected-looking form, but it is built in a straightforward way: the adjective "priceless" with the adverb-forming suffix "-ly" added to the end. "Priceless" itself combines "price" with "-less," an ending meaning "without," so the adjective literally describes something without a price. The suffix at the end has a long pedigree. It descends from a Proto-Germanic element "-līkaz," meaning "having the form or appearance of," which also gave English words like "lovely" and "godly" through the Old English "-līċe." Over the centuries, the ending appeared in English as "-ly," and it became the regular way to turn adjectives into adverbs. "Pricelessly" thus follows the same path as countless other adverbs, moving from a description of a thing to a description of how something is done. Its meaning, that an action carries value beyond any measure, grows naturally from the adjective's sense of being beyond price.

Synonyms: invaluably, preciously, immeasurably, inestimably

Antonyms: worthlessly, cheaply, valuelessly