Veritably

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈvɛɹɪtəbli/

Definitions

1. In a manner that is truly authentic or believable
2. In a way that can be confirmed as completely factual or unequivocally real
3. In a way that is undeniably real and genuine

Etymology: Veritably is a straightforward formation: the adjective "veritable" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" added to it. The adjective itself comes from Old French "veritable," which descends from Latin "veritas," meaning "truth." English speakers attached the suffix to make an adverb that means "in a truthful or genuine manner," so a veritable feast is a real feast and veritably is the adverb meaning undeniably so. The suffix has a long pedigree of its own. It traces back through Middle English "-ly" and Old English "-līċe" to a Proto-Germanic form meaning "like" or "having the form of," which is also the source of the English word "like." In other words, the same root that gives us "like" sits at the end of "veritably," so the adverb is literally "truthlike" in shape.

Synonyms: truly, really, genuinely