Semiregularly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Occurring at fairly regular intervals, though not with strict or perfect precision
2. Happening with a moderate degree of consistency, roughly on a repeating schedule but not exactly
3. Taking place at intervals that are reasonably regular without being rigidly fixed

Etymology: "Semiregularly" is a plain formation: the adjective "semiregular," meaning half or partly regular, with the adverbial suffix "-ly" added to turn it into a description of how often something happens. "Semi-" comes from Latin "semi-," meaning "half," which English has used as a prefix for centuries, while "regular" traces back through Old French to Latin "regularis," from "regula," a rule or straight stick used as a measure. Put together, the parts give a sense of something that happens on a schedule with gaps or irregularities, neither fixed nor random. A magazine that appears every few weeks rather than monthly, or a bus that runs at uneven but recurring intervals, would be described this way. The word follows the pattern of many English adverbs built from adjectives with "-ly," so its meaning can be worked out from its parts.

Synonyms: occasionally, periodically, intermittently, sporadically

Antonyms: regularly, constantly, continuously