-istically

/ˈɪ.stɪk.li//ˈɪ.stɪ.kə.li/

suffix

Used to form adverbs describing action in the manner of the root adjective; use is identical irrespective of whether the root adjective ends with -istic or -istical.

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Meanings

suffix
  1. Used to form adverbs describing action in the manner of the root adjective; use is identical irrespective of whether the root adjective ends with -istic or -istical.

    Horns, trumpets, and trombones, both soloistically and sectionally, became central to the orchestral concept... His highly subtle orchestration elevates woodwinds, more often scored soloistically than sectionally.

    2003, Don Michael Randel, The Harvard Dictionary of Music, page 598
    1 more example

    “It goes without saying,” said McFee, the filled-up philosopher, funistically inclined, “that aside from baseball players and ice men, the professional prophet for profit makes more of it than any other man”.

    1916, Artemes Ward Utting, The Judge, page 377

Origin

Alternately -istical (“adjective suffix”) + -ly (“adverb suffix”) or -istic (“adjective suffix”) + -ally (“adverb suffix”). In either case, ultimately -ist + -ic + -al + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

-istically. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-istically

MLA

“-istically.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-istically. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-istically,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-istically.

Source: -istically on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.