Commonplacely

/ˈkɒmənpleɪsli/ adverb

Definition

In a commonplace manner; in a way that is ordinary, uninteresting, or lacking originality.

Etymology

From 'commonplace' (from Latin communis, 'common' + Medieval Latin placitum, 'matter of public record') + -ly (adverb suffix). The compound traces back to 15th-century English reference books called 'commonplace books.'

Kelly Says

A medieval 'commonplace book' was actually smart—people wrote down interesting quotes and ideas to remember them. Over time, 'commonplace' flipped to mean boring, which is ironic: collecting ideas stopped being rare and became, well, common.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.