Jump to content

undesignedly

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From undesigned +‎ -ly.

Adverb

[edit]

undesignedly (not comparable)

  1. In a way that was not designed; as an unexpected consequence; unintentionally.
    • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, [], →OCLC, book 4:
      [] Since that time, I have written to her many letters, but never could obtain an answer, which I must own sits somewhat the heavier, as she herself was, though undesignedly, the occasion of all my sufferings []
    • 1811, [Jane Austen], chapter 45, in Sense and Sensibility [], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: [] C[harles] Roworth, [], and published by T[homas] Egerton, [], →OCLC:
      “He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled. It came out quite unawares, quite undesignedly. []
    • 1838, American Anti-Slavery Society, The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 2 of 4[1]:
      But we cannot close our remarks upon the apprenticeship system without noticing one good end which it has undesignedly accomplished, i.e., the illustration of the good disposition of the colored people.
    • 1902, John Lord, Beacon Lights of History, Volume XIII[2]:
      Yet it would be difficult to name two writers whose works have been more completely, though undesignedly, colored by their personal feelings.