In a corrupt manner; dishonestly or through bribery and illegal dealings.
From 'corrupt' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly.' It describes how someone acts when engaging in corrupt behavior, evolving from Latin 'corruptus' meaning spoiled or broken.
You'll find this word in legal documents and news articles about fraud—'the official acted corruptly'—it's the adverb form that makes corruption an action rather than a state. It's how detectives describe what criminals actually do.
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