adaptivelyadv.
/əˈdaptᵻvli/, U.S. /əˈdæptᵻvli/ In an adaptive manner; by way of adaptation; so as to suit special conditions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > adaptation > [adverb]
adaptively1847
1847 Brit. & Foreign Med. Rev. 24 200 All these [movements of animals]..have certain obscure pleasing or displeasing external sensations and beneficial or injurious impressions..which..are really in the position to accomplish adaptively the maintenance and well-being of the animal.
1854 S. P. Woodward Man. Mollusca ii. 253 The form of the foot is usually characteristic of the families; but sometimes it is adaptively modified.
1962 Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 26 63/1 Bacteria possess many regulatory devices which render their metabolic processes adaptively responsive to the environment.
2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 28 Apr. c1/5 Buildings like that can be adaptively reused for new community purposes.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.1847