Recklessly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner showing lack of care for consequences or safety, done without prudent consideration of danger
2. In a way that demonstrates a disregard for potential risks or outcomes, undertaken without thoughtful caution or awareness of possible harm
3. Executed with a careless attitude toward impending dangers or ramifications, lacking sensible foresight or precaution

Etymology: "Reckless" and "recklessly" share a root meaning "care," which has turned into its opposite. The Old English adjective "rēċelēas" was built from "rēċe," meaning "care" or "heed," plus "-lēas," meaning "-less," so it literally meant "careless" or "without heed." Careless and reckless were once near-synonyms, and the word's core sense has stayed largely the same across centuries, with its sense of "without caring about danger" growing out of that original lack of concern. The adverb is simply the adjective "reckless" with the suffix "-ly" added. In Old English the adverb was "rēċelēaslīce," which combined "rēċelēas" with "-līce," the ancestor of the modern "-ly" suffix. Middle English then shortened it to "reklesly," and the form we now use reflects that long process of wearing down.

Synonyms: carelessly, thoughtlessly, hastily, impulsively, wildly

Antonyms: cautiously, carefully