Unsuccessfully

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˌʌnsəkˈsɛsfəli/

Definitions

  1. Failure to achieve a desired outcome | Not accomplishing a goal or task | Attempting something without success
  2. The act of making an effort or attempting something that does not lead to the intended result | Engaging in activities or pursuits that ultimately do not yield success | Striving to attain a goal or objective but ultimately failing to do so
  3. The process of trying to achieve a specific aim that ends without the desired outcome

Etymology: The adverb in question is formed by adding the suffix "-ly," which typically converts adjectives into adverbs, to the adjective meaning "not successful." This adjective itself is constructed by prefixing the negative "un-" to the base noun "success," combined with the adjectival suffix "-ful," meaning "full of" or "characterized by." Thus, the word literally means "in a manner not full of success." Tracing the base further, "success" entered English in the late 16th century from the Latin "successus," which means "an advance, a coming up," derived from the verb "succedere," meaning "to go under, come close after, succeed." Over time, "success" evolved from a general sense of "an outcome" to specifically mean a favorable or desired result. Adding "un-" negates this, turning the meaning to "lack of a favorable result." The suffix "-ful," borrowed from Old English, was appended to transform the noun into an adjective that describes possession or presence of the quality—thus "successful" means "full of success." The addition of "-ly" to form an adverb is a common English morphological process, dating back to Old English, enabling the description of the manner in which an action is performed. As a whole, the word entered English usage as a way to describe actions or attempts that did not achieve their intended or desired outcome, aligning with the straightforward negation of "successful." The layered affixation—negative prefix, adjectival suffix, and adverbial suffix—illustrates English’s capacity for building precise meanings through combinatory morphology.

Synonyms: ineffectively, futilely, in vain, without success

Antonyms: successfully, effectively, triumphantly, favorably