undesignedly

English

Etymology

undesigned +‎ -ly

Adverb

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, Book 11, Chapter 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, Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 45,
      “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:
      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:
      Yet it would be difficult to name two writers whose works have been more completely, though undesignedly, colored by their personal feelings.
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.