painstakingly
|pain-stak-ing-ly|
C1
/ˈpeɪnˌsteɪkɪŋli/
(painstaking)
careful effort
Etymology
Etymology Information
'painstakingly' originates from the word 'painstaking', which is a combination of 'pain' and 'staking', where 'pain' meant 'effort' and 'staking' referred to 'taking great care'.
Historical Evolution
'painstaking' evolved from the Middle English word 'payn', which meant 'effort or trouble', and 'staken', which meant 'to take'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'taking great care or effort', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner that shows diligent care and effort.
She painstakingly painted every detail of the portrait.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35