Seemingly

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈsiːmɪŋli/

Definitions

1. Appearing to be the case on the surface, though possibly not true in reality
2. Having an outward facade that indicates a particular situation, while the facts may differ significantly from that appearance
3. Giving the impression of truthfulness or reality without confirmation, while the actual situation may be different

Etymology: "Seemingly" is a plain formation: the adjective-turned-participle "seeming" (from the verb "seem") with the adverbial ending "-ly" attached, which turns a description of how something looks into a description of how it is presented. It was built in Middle English as "semyngly," so the word is as old as the English that produced it rather than a later borrowing. The interesting part is the shift in its underlying sense. "Seem" once carried a strong connection to looking, and "seeming" in older English could mean something close to "outward appearance" or "a look," which is why "seemingly" can point to a judgment about appearance without committing to whether that appearance is accurate. Modern readers often feel a slight hedge in the word, as if the speaker is saying "on the face of it" while holding back on the truth.

Synonyms: apparently, ostensibly

Antonyms: unquestionably, definitely