tentatively

/ˈtentətɪvli/TEN-tuh-tiv-lee

/ˈtɛntətɪvli/TEN-tuh-tiv-lee

Meaningin a way that is trying

Common meaning: in a tentative way

tentto handle, testLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1851 · scan
ativeadjective ending: tending to
lyadverb ending: in a way

Journey through time

Latintentare‘to try’source
Latintentativus‘trying’source
Englishtentative‘done as a trial’
Englishformed in English from tentativetentatively‘in a tentative way’ · today

Sources & notes

Inferred source: no dictionary we use has an entry for this exact word. Its history is worked out from closely related, listed words in the same family, and we are trusting that link, so bear that in mind. Inferred meaning: in a way that is trying. It can be inferred from any of: tentative.

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Formed in English from tentative + -ly (inferred: this exact word is not listed in our dictionaries).

Roots

temptō, temptāre Latin “to handle, test”

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