Unsystematically

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In an approach that is disorganized and lacking consistency
2. Through actions that do not adhere to an established system or method
3. Done without any planned order or method, appearing irregular and unpredictable

Etymology: "Unsystematically" is a plain formation: the adjective "unsystematic" with the adverbial ending "-ally" attached. "Systematic" itself traces back to Greek "systēma," meaning a whole put together from parts, and English gained "unsystematic" by adding the negating prefix "un-" to that adjective. The adverb follows the usual pattern for adjectives ending in "-ic," where "-ally" is added to form adverbs of manner. The ending has a longer history than the word it sits on. The "-ally" form descends from Latin "-ālis," which passed into Old French as "-el" and "-al," reached Middle English as "-al," and then combined with the Old English adverbial suffix "-līce," which produced Middle English "-ly." The modern "-ally" resulted from the sequence of "-al" and "-ly" merging into one ending.

Synonyms: haphazardly, randomly, chaotically

Antonyms: systematically