In a blank manner; without expression, emotion, or understanding; vacantly.
From blank + -ly (adverb suffix). The -ly suffix comes from Old English and Germanic roots meaning 'in the manner of' or 'like,' transforming adjectives into adverbs.
When someone stares blankly at you, you're actually seeing a fascinating moment where their brain has hit a processing limit—in interviews, it's the tell that someone didn't understand the question, but in poker it's what players practice to prevent, because blankly-staring gives away nothing and everything at once.
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