unrealistically
Meaning
in a way that is not based on facts or what is possible or practical
in a way that does not show things as they are in life
Structure
Usage
the project's budget was unrealistically low from the start.
she unrealistically expected to become fluent in a month.
the film portrays the characters' lives unrealistically, without any real problems.
Etymology
The word is a Modern English formation built upon the core adjective 'realistic,' which itself derives from the Latin 'res' meaning 'thing' or 'matter.' The prefix 'un,' of Old English origin, is attached to reverse the meaning, creating 'unrealistic' to describe something not grounded in practical reality. The adverbial suffix '-ally,' with a complex lineage through Latin and Old French, is then appended to form the adverb, describing the manner of doing something in a way that ignores facts or practical constraints.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english) meaning "not," serving a negating function. - realistic: an adjective of latin and greek origin, from the root 'real' (thing, matter) and the suffix 'istic' (pertaining to), functioning as the core descriptive element. - ally: an adverbial suffix of latin origin (via old french), from '-alis' + '-iter', indicating manner or quality.