unlawfully
Meaning
in a way that is not allowed by law; illegally.
Structure
Usage
the evidence was obtained unlawfully and was dismissed by the court.
he was accused of entering the country unlawfully.
the company was fined for unlawfully disposing of hazardous waste.
Etymology
the word 'unlawfully' is a layered construction built upon the old english noun 'law'. the negative prefix 'un-', also of old english origin, was attached to the adjective 'lawful' to create its opposite, 'unlawful', meaning "not conforming to the law". finally, the old english adverbial suffix '-fully' (a combination of '-ful' and '-ly') was added to form the adverb, describing an action performed in an illegal manner. this word exemplifies the analytic capacity of english to create precise legal terminology through the sequential combination of native germanic elements.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin, meaning "not" or "opposite of". it functions as a negative modifier. - law: a noun of old english origin (from old english lagu), meaning "a rule established by authority or custom". it functions as the core semantic root. - fully: an adverbial suffix of old english origin (from old english -fullīce), meaning "in a manner characterized by". it converts the adjective into an adverb.