deceptively
UK: dɪˈsɛptɪvli | US: dɪˈsɛptɪvli
adv. in a way that is misleading or intended to deceive
adv. in a manner that gives a false impression
The word "deceptively" combines "deceptive," derived from the Latin decipere (to deceive), with the adverbial suffix "-ly." The root "deceptive" retains its core meaning of misleading or false appearance, while "-ly" transforms it into an adverb describing the manner of an action. Historically, "deceive" traces back to Latin de- (down, away) + capere (to take), metaphorically implying "to take someone down" through trickery.
The room was deceptively small, appearing cramped but actually spacious.
He smiled deceptively, hiding his true intentions.
The task seemed deceptively simple but required hours of effort.
Her tone was deceptively calm, masking her anger.
The dessert looked deceptively light but was incredibly rich.