gratuitously

WOTD – 14 October 2009    

English

Etymology

From gratuitous +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɡɹəˈtjuː.ɪ.təs.li/, /ɡɹəˈtʃuː.ɪ.təs.li/
• (US) IPA: /ɡɹəˈtu.ə.təs.li/, /ɡɹəˈtju.ə.təs.li/

Adverb

gratuitously (comparative more gratuitously, superlative most gratuitously)

1. Freely; in the manner of a gift, without being earned.
   • 1854, Henry David Thoreau, Walden, chapter 1

     We should feed and clothe him gratuitously sometimes, and recruit him with our cordials, before we judge of him.

2. In a manner not demanded by the circumstances, without reason, justification, cause, or proof.
   • 1881, Samuel Tolver Preston, “On Action at a Distance”, Philosophical Magazine 15:38-39

     Secondly, Mr. Browne concludes, apparently rather gratuitously, on page 441 as follows […]

Translations

freely; in the manner of a gift

• Finnish: ilmaiseksi (fi)
• French: gratuitement (fr)
• Italian: gratuitamente (it)

• Russian: бесплатно (ru) (besplatno), даром (ru) (darom)
• Spanish: gratuitamente (es)

in a manner not demanded by the circumstances

• Finnish: turhaan (fi), tarpeettomasti (fi)
• French: gratuitement (fr)
• Italian: gratuitamente (it)

• Russian: неуместно (ru) (neumestno), беспричинно (ru) (bespričinno)
• Spanish: gratuitamente (es)

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Translations to be checked

• Georgian: უფასოდ (ka) (up'asod)