apparently
UK[əˈpærəntli]US[əˈpærəntli]
adv
according to what you have heard or read; from appearances alone.
adv
used to say that something seems to be true, although it is not certain or there is no proof.
Morpheme Breakdown
apparent
ly
apparent
to appear
ly
in a specified manner
Etymology
the word 'apparently' is built upon the latin verb 'apparere', meaning 'to appear, come into sight'. this verb itself is a compound of 'ad-' (to, towards) and 'parere' (to come forth, be visible). the adjective 'apparent' thus originally described something that was visible or evident. the adverbial suffix '-ly', of germanic origin, was attached to form 'apparently', shifting the meaning to describe the manner of being evident. over time, the sense evolved from describing something that is clearly seen to its modern, often weaker, usage implying something is true based on available evidence, even if that evidence is incomplete or secondhand, introducing an element of uncertainty.
Analysis
Structure: apparent + ly
- apparent: from latin 'apparent-', 'apparens', present participle of 'apparere' meaning 'to appear'. functions as the adjective root.
- ly: from old english '-līc', an adverbial suffix meaning 'in a specified manner'.
Examples
the meeting was apparently a success, though no official report has been released.
he's apparently decided to take the job in another city.
the document was apparently lost during the office move.