nonsensicallyadv.
/nɒnˈsɛnsᵻkli/, U.S. /nɑnˈsɛnsək(ə)li/ In a nonsensical manner; absurdly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > absurdity, incongruity > [adverb]
stultitiously1536
preposterously?c1550
absurdly1559
ridiculously1563
fore-backwardlya1586
nonsensically1648
ad absurdum1656
nonsensely1656
fancifully1664
laughably1763
ridiculous1827
laughingly1843
dottily1937
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > nonsense, rubbish > [adverb]
nonsensically1648
nonsensely1656
1648 Mercurius Pragmaticus No. 26. sig. Ll4v Most non-sensically they voted, that they could not approve of the King's choice of the Lord Canarthy.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 83 If they misapply words..never so non-sensically, they passe for fine Fellowes.
1754 J. Edwards Careful Enq. Freedom of Will i. iii. 15 If any Man uses these Terms in such Cases, he either uses them nonsensically, or in some new Sense.
1784 E. Allen Reason viii. 93 Their notions of..predetermination.., upon which system their election and everlasting happiness is nonsensically founded.
1852 W. Hamilton Discuss. Philos. & Lit. 624* I admit, that had we thus spoken, we had spoken, not only ungrammatically, but nonsensically.
1927 V. Woolf To Lighthouse 172 Mrs. Ramsay went on speaking still more monotonously, and more rhythmically and more nonsensically.
1996 Guardian 29 Mar. (Friday Review section) 10/4 The earlier work..took the..singer's voice and lyrics and grafted them (sometimes, given the studio editing, nonsensically) on to a contemporary western sound.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1648