porously
|por-ous-ly|
/ˈpɔːrəs/
(porous)
full of holes
Etymology
'porous' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'porosus', where 'poros-' (from Greek 'poros') meant 'passage' or 'pore'.
'porous' changed from Latin 'porosus' (itself from Greek 'poros') into Late Latin and then entered English via Middle English as 'porous', eventually giving the modern adjective 'porous' and the adverb 'porously'.
Initially, it meant 'full of passages or pores', and over time it retained this basic meaning while extending metaphorically to describe things that are permeable or not strictly sealed/controlled.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a porous manner; allowing the passage of liquids, gases, or other substances through small openings or pores; metaphorically, in a way that is permeable or not strictly controlled.
The filter was constructed porously so that water could pass through while larger particles were retained.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/12 08:20