innocentlyadv.
/ˈɪnəsntli/, U.S. /ˈɪnəs(ə)ntli/ a. In an innocent manner; without doing, having done, or intending, harm; guiltlessly, harmlessly, guilelessly, artlessly. See the adjective.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > unaffectedness or naturalness > [adverb] > artlessly, guilessly, or innocently
innocentlyc1400
ingenuously1611
plain-heartedly1675
artlessly1713
naively1716
naïfly1859
unsubtly1934
society > morality > virtue > purity > innocence > [adverb]
innocentlyc1400
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxxii. 145 Liffand innocently in lewtee and in luffe and charitee.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. BBviiv Whan they haue..suffred..many obieccions and iniuryes innocently, for the loue of Jesu.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. ii. f. 8 Men lyued simplye and innocentlye without inforcement of lawes.
1621 G. Sandys tr. Ovid First Five Bks. Metamorphosis iv. 111 Where the innocently-wretched maid Was, for her mothers proud impietie..sentenced to die.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 157. ⁋6 Let him go before he has innocently suffered.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 383. ¶1 The Child who went to the Door answered very Innocently that he did not Lodge there.
1863 A. P. Stanley Lect. Jewish Church I. ix. 218 What was meant innocently..is taken for a conspiracy, a rebellion.
1885 Manch. Examiner 5 May 5/2 They might spend their time less innocently.
b. figurative. Spotlessly. (Cf. innocent adj. 1b.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > [adverb]
cleanc1000
cleanlyc1200
spotlesslya1671
cleanlily1698
innocently1715
specklessly1862
1715 tr. G. Panciroli Hist. Memorable Things Lost I. i. xv. 36 The Parian [marble] is the most innocently white.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.c1400