Saltily

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that involves salt, such as tasting or containing salt ; with a tone or manner that is sharp, irritable, or slightly rude
2. Describing something done with saltiness, either in flavor or composition ; expressing annoyance or bitterness in attitude or speech
3. Done by means of or related to salt ; characterized by a mildly caustic or biting temperament or expression

Etymology: "Saltily" is about as transparent as English words get: it is simply "salty" with the adverbial ending "-ly" attached, so it describes doing something in a salty manner. The base word "salty" comes from "salt," which traces back to Old English "sealt," and the suffix "-ly" comes from Old English "-lic," meaning "having the form or character of," which gradually wore down into the modern adverb ending. The word is an adverb formed on an adjective, so its meaning follows directly from the base. Where "salty" can describe taste, texture or sea air, "saltily" carries that sense into a manner of action, such as seasoning food or speaking in a sharp, briny way. Because the formation is so regular, it can be produced from almost any adjective of this kind without a separate history of its own.

Synonyms: briny, savorily

Antonyms: freshly, sweetly