askingly

English

Etymology

From Middle English askingli, axingly, equivalent to asking +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

askingly (comparative more askingly, superlative most askingly)

1. In an asking manner; so as to ask.

   Synonyms: questioningly, requestingly

   • 1796, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “To a Young Ass”, in Poems on Various Subjects‎, London: G.G. and J. Robinsons, page 92:

     How askingly It’s footsteps t’ward me bend?
     It seems to say, “And have I then one Friend?”

   • 1890, William Dean Howells, The Shadow of a Dream‎, New York: Harper, Part 2, Chapter 2, p. 87:

     “I don’t know whether this is something your wife ever knew about or not?” he began askingly.

   • 1916, Arthur Adolphus Lindsay, Scientific Man Building Through Thought Force‎, Detroit: A. A. Lindsay Publishing Company, page 12:

     Aspiration is looking askingly; to reach a desirable result one must look askingly toward that which can fulfill.

   • 1983, Joyce Johnson, chapter 9, in Minor Characters‎, New York: Pocket Books, published 1984, page 150:

     “That can’t possibly be true,” I say. But he looks at me so sadly, askingly, across his desk—

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