purposely

[pur-puh s-lee]

adverb

intentionally; deliberately: He tripped me purposely.

with the particular purpose specified; expressly: I wore that suit purposely to make a good impression.

Nearby words

purportedly,
purpose,
purpose-built,
purposeful,
purposeless,
purposive,
purpresture,
purpura,
purpura annularis telangiectodes,
purpura fulminans

Origin of purposely

First recorded in 1485–95; purpose + -ly

Related formsun·pur·pose·ly, adverb

Can be confusedpurposefully purposely

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for unpurposely

purposely

adverb

for a definite reason; on purpose

xref

See purposeful

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unpurposely

purposely

adv.

late 15c., from purpose (n.) + -ly (2).