perfunctorily

the adverb "perfunctorily" is built upon the adjective "perfunctory," which entered english in the late 16th century from late latin perfunctorius, meaning "careless, negligent." this latin term derives from perfunctus, the past participle of perfungi, meaning "to accomplish, get through with." the literal morphemes break down to per- ("through, to the end") and fungi ("to perform"). thus, the original sense was of an action performed merely to get it done or discharged from one's duties. over time, the focus on completing a task "through to the end" shifted emphasis to the manner of completion—hasty and with minimal engagement—giving us the modern meaning of doing something in a superficial, mechanical, or indifferent way.

Structure: per (through) + funct (perform) + orily (adverb suffix) - per: a latin preposition meaning "through, thoroughly, to completion". - funct: from latin functus, the past participle of fungi meaning "to perform, execute, discharge". - orily: a complex english adverbial suffix derived from the adjective suffix -ory (relating to an action) combined with -ly (forming adverbs).