inexpensively
Meaning
in a way that costs little money; cheaply
Structure
Usage
the store allows you to shop conveniently and inexpensively online.
they managed to furnish their entire apartment quite inexpensively by shopping at thrift stores.
the new manufacturing process produces high-quality goods more inexpensively.
Etymology
The word "inexpensively" is built upon the adjective "expensive," which traces back to the Latin verb 'expendere,' meaning "to weigh out" or "to pay." The prefix 'in-' of Latin origin is added to negate the meaning, creating "inexpensive" to signify "not costly." Finally, the Old English adverbial suffix '-ly' is appended, transforming the adjective into an adverb that describes the manner of an action performed at low cost. This construction elegantly demonstrates how Latin and Old English elements combine to form a precise Modern English term describing economical action.
Analysis
- in: latin origin, a prefix meaning "not" or "without". - expensive: from latin 'expens-' (past participle stem of 'expendere' meaning "to weigh out, pay out") via medieval latin 'expensivus', functioning as the adjective root meaning "costly". - ly: old english origin, an adverb-forming suffix.