randomly
UK[ˈrændəmli]US[ˈrændəmli]
adv
in a way that happens, is done, or is chosen without a definite plan, pattern, or purpose
adv
(statistics) according to a principle of chance, where each possible outcome has an equal probability
Morpheme Breakdown
random
ly
random
lacking a pattern or aim
ly
in a ... manner
Etymology
the adverb 'randomly' is built upon the adjective 'random', whose journey to its modern meaning is a fascinating drift from force to chance. entering english from old french, where randon signified 'impetuous speed' or a 'headlong rush', it originally described actions done with violent haste. this sense of uncontrolled force gradually softened, shifting from 'haphazard in motion' to 'lacking any specific direction or method'. by the 17th century, it settled into its current core meaning of being governed by chance rather than design. the addition of the prolific old english adverbial suffix '-ly' simply formalizes this state, creating a word that means 'in a manner characterized by chance or absence of a pattern'.
Analysis
Structure: random + ly
random: from old french randon 'impetuosity, speed', itself from randir 'to run fast', of germanic origin (related to 'run'). functions as the adjective root meaning 'lacking a pattern or aim'.
ly: from old english -līc (adjective suffix) and -līce (adverb suffix), from proto-germanic -līkō. functions as an adverb-forming suffix meaning 'in a ... manner'.
Examples
the winner will be chosen randomly from all eligible entries.
she scattered the seeds randomly across the prepared soil.
the data points are distributed randomly around the mean.