Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In an innocent manner; harmlessly; guilelessly.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In an innocent manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In an innocent manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a naively innocent manner
  • adverb in a not unlawful manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

innocent +‎ -ly

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word innocently.

Examples

  • My point, and from your paragraph where you want sexuality to unfold innocently, is that IMO it so rarely does.

    Let’s Talk About Sex | Her Bad Mother 2006

  • But to his friends he seemed only the agreeable, clever, lively, and, if we may use the phrase innocently, the worldly man, -- never affecting a superior sanctity, or an over-anxiety to forms, except upon great occasions; and rendering his austerity of manners the more admired, because he made it seem so unaccompanied by hypocrisy.

    Paul Clifford — Volume 03 Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • But to his friends he seemed only the agreeable, clever, lively, and, if we may use the phrase innocently, the worldly man, -- never affecting a superior sanctity, or an over-anxiety to forms, except upon great occasions; and rendering his austerity of manners the more admired, because he made it seem so unaccompanied by hypocrisy.

    Paul Clifford — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • The history of the word begins innocently enough with the Latin word scamnum, "a stool or bench serving as a seat, step, or support for the feet, for example."

    Scribal Terror 2008

  • The history of the word begins innocently enough with the Latin word scamnum, "a stool or bench serving as a seat, step, or support for the feet, for example."

    Scribal Terror 2008

  • He says he met her 8 years ago, "innocently" - but then just had to get in her pants

    Center for American Progress Action Fund 2009

  • Now, I was going to read you something from the Moomins, but it’s not quite as charming when removed from the illustrations of big Moomin innocently bent-over butts.

    Of Angleworms and Others | Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast 2008

  • There was a little bottle labelled innocently: "Grey powder" with a dose.

    N or M Christie, Agatha 1941

  • You don't know if she was "innocently" referencing a prior name of the area, or was making a highly inflammatory and antisemitic political statement.

    Discourse.net: White House Puts its Media Skills to Work on Diplomacy 2009

  • You don't know if she was "innocently" referencing a prior name of the area, or was making a highly inflammatory and antisemitic political statement.

    Discourse.net: White House Puts its Media Skills to Work on Diplomacy 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.