designlesslyadv.
/dᵻˈzʌɪnlᵻsli/, U.S. /dəˈzaɪnlᵻsli/, /diˈzaɪnlᵻsli/ Now rare.
In a designless manner; with no specific purpose or intention.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > intention > unintentional or unplanned character > [adverb] > unintentionally or involuntarily > aimlessly
about1638
designlessly1659
aimlessly1818
purposelessly1840
round1848
divaguely1857
objectlessly1860
motivelessly1867
unmeaningly1871
footlessly1916
1659 R. Boyle Some Motives & Incentives to Love of God 81 His [sc. the Sun's] Visits are made designlessly.
a1691 R. Boyle Wks. (1772) VI. 30 Not rashly or designlessly shuffled by a blind hazard.
1780 T. Sheridan Gen. Dict. Eng. Lang. I Designlessly, Without intention, ignorantly, inadvertently.
1857 Cosmopolitan Art Jrnl. 2 9/3 His frame was only automatical, working designlessly, but still with an impulse uncontrollable.
1947 S. Sassoon Early March in Coll. Poems (1984) 278 Designlessly in love with life unlived, I go.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1659