detainingly

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adverb

So as to detain or hold back.

“The policeman's hand fell detainingly on my shoulder. "Just a moment, sir!" he said.”

Scrabble 16
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Meanings

adverbdetainingly (comparative more detainingly, superlative most detainingly)

comparative more detainingly · superlative most detainingly

  1. So as to detain or hold back.

    The policeman's hand fell detainingly on my shoulder. "Just a moment, sir!" he said.

Origin

From detaining + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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