tentively

T1E1N1T1I1V4E1L1Y4

adverb

attentively

Scrabble 15

Meanings

adverbtentively (comparative more tentively, superlative most tentively)

comparative more tentively · superlative most tentively

  1. obsoleteattentively

    We have a Saviour, tell it out among the heathen, that all the nations of the earth may partake of the gift, whose radient eye brightens tentively on such a subject as this, who are under the domination of the sensual affections and appetites

    1795, Uzal Ogden, Antidote to Deism. The Deist Unmasked; […], volume 1, Newark: John Woods, page 50
    1 more example

    For the three days following her first visit her temperature varied form 99.2 to 100 in the mornings, and from 100.2 to 102 in the evenings. At the first visit she was treated tentifly, her throat being thoroughly cleansed, and a 15 per cent. solution of nitrate of silver was applied to the ulcerated surface

    1901, “Case of Primary Syphilitic Lesion of the Faucial Tonsil”, in The Journal of the American Medical Association, volume XXXVII, number 15, Chicago Illinois, Clinical Report, page 979

Origin

  1. Middle Englishtentifly
  2. Englishtentively

From Middle English tentifly, or by surface analysis, tentive + ly.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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