Purposely

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈpɝpəsli/

Definitions

1. Done with intention or deliberation rather than by accident or chance
2. Performed with a clear intention and thoughtfulness rather than occurring accidentally or without planning
3. Executed with a specific aim in mind and not by coincidence or happenstance

Etymology: "Purposely" is a plain formation: the noun "purpose" with the adverb-forming suffix "-ly" added to it. "Purpose" itself came into English from Old French "porpos," a compound of "pur-" (forward, from Latin "pro-") and "poser" (to place), so the root idea is something set out ahead of you, a goal put in front of you before you act. The adverb took shape in Middle English as "purposly," and the modern spelling with the extra vowel followed later. Its sense is precise: the action was carried out with a deliberate aim, as opposed to happening by chance. The word therefore draws a line between intention and accident, which is why it is often used to answer the question of whether someone meant to do something.

Synonyms: intentionally, deliberately

Antonyms: accidentally