roughly
UK: ˈrʌfli | US: ˈrʌfli
adv. approximately; not precisely
adv. in a harsh or coarse manner
adv. without attention to detail; crudely
The word "roughly" derives from the Old English "rūh," meaning "shaggy" or "coarse," combined with the adverbial suffix "-ly," which transforms adjectives into adverbs. Over time, "rough" evolved to describe anything uneven or approximate, and "-ly" standardized its adverbial function. The term's dual meanings—both physical ("harshly") and abstract ("approximately")—reflect its Germanic roots and later semantic broadening in Middle English.
The project will cost roughly $10,000.
He handled the fragile package roughly, causing damage.
She sketched the design roughly before refining it.
The estimate was roughly accurate but needed adjustments.
The surface felt roughly textured under his fingers.