refractively
|re-frac-tive-ly|
/rɪˈfræk.tɪv.li/
(refractive)
bend or redirect (light/waves)
Etymology
'refractively' originates from Latin, specifically the element 'refract-' (from Latin 'refractus'), where 're-' meant 'back' and 'frangere' (root seen in 'fract-') meant 'to break'.
'refractively' changed from Latin 'refractus' (past participle of 'refringere') into Medieval/Modern Latin 'refractio'/'refractus', then through Late Latin/Old French and Middle English forms 'refract'/'refractive' and eventually the modern English adjective 'refractive' and the adverb 'refractively'.
Initially it related to 'breaking back' or 'breaking', but over time the sense shifted to the bending or change of direction of waves (especially light) — the modern meaning emphasizes 'bending/redirecting' rather than literal breaking.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner relating to refraction; by means of, or as if by, the bending of light or other waves when passing between media of different density. Also used figuratively to describe a redirection or transformation of influence or effect.
The prism refractively separated the beam into a spectrum of colors.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/15 20:16