carelessly

adv

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵeh₂r-der. Proto-Germanic *karō Proto-West Germanic *karu Old English caru Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Old English carlēas Middle English careles English careless Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English carelessly From careless + -ly.

1. Giving the appearance of carelessness; relaxedly.

   “The papers were carelessly strewn on the table.”

   “Let us try to imagine the qualms of some Fifth Avenue florist if he could but see so many potential boutonnières, at a dollar apiece, so carelessly heaped up in baskets, lining the dingy pavement.”

2. Done without care or attention; inattentively.

   “Distracted by the salesperson, he carelessly read the contract.”