Faultily

/ˈfɔːltɪli/ adverb

Definition

In a manner containing mistakes or defects; imperfectly or with errors.

Etymology

From 'faulty' (adjective meaning flawed or defective) plus '-ly' suffix to form an adverb. 'Faulty' comes from Old French 'faulte' meaning 'lack' or 'defect', ultimately from Latin 'fallere' meaning 'to deceive' or 'to fail'. The '-ly' adverbial suffix transforms the adjective into an adverb describing how an action is performed.

Kelly Says

This word reveals how English uses the '-ly' suffix to turn adjectives into adverbs—one of our most productive word-building tools! You'll notice that 'faultily' is actually pretty rare in modern English; we'd more likely say 'incorrectly' or 'defectively', which shows how some words become less popular over time while others thrive.

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