musinglyadv.
/ˈmjuːzɪŋli/, U.S. /ˈmjuzɪŋli/ In a musing manner; thoughtfully, dreamily, meditatively.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > [adverb]
contemplativelyc1450
contemplative1581
musingly1611
cogitabundly1659
cogitatively1731
meditatingly1753
meditatively1790
contemplatingly1801
musefullya1810
speculatively1883
1611 J. Florio Queen Anna's New World of Words Accigliare, to looke staringlie or musinglie.
1758 D. Garrick Florizel & Perdita i. i. 5 I have musingly noted, he is of late much retir'd from court, and is less frequent to his princely exercises than formerly he hath appear'd.
1796 A. Yearsley Rural Lyre 52 Thus musingly I wander'd.
1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby I. ii. vi. 220 ‘A sound Conservative Government,’ said Taper, musingly. ‘I understand: Tory men and Whig measures.’
1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xix. 185 ‘There's one thing,’ said Alan, musingly, ‘that naebody kens his name.’
1925 W. Cather Professor's House i. i. 19 [Professor] St. Peter was sitting in his desk chair, looking musingly at the pile of papers before him.
1986 L. Ngosi Mating Birds xi. 73 He taps his pad musingly with a pen.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1611