reflexively

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English reflexive

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 reflexively

From reflexive + -ly.

Adverb

reflexively

1. In a reflexive manner.
2. By reflex, automatically, without conscious thought.

   Reflexively he opened his mouth to breathe, forgetting he was underwater.