What does fondlingly mean?
Fondlingly is a rare English adverb meaning 'in a fondling manner' — that is, with the gentle, affectionate stroking or caressing implied by the verb fondle. Built from the verb fondle plus the adverbial suffix '-ly' (via the participle fondling), it describes the way an action is carried out rather than the action itself: one might stroke a cat's ear fondlingly, or run a hand fondlingly over the smooth surface of a well-worn object. Because the underlying verb can carry intimate or sexual connotations, writers generally deploy the word only where a clearly innocent, tender sense is intended. In practice it appears chiefly in literary prose, and many style-conscious writers prefer simpler alternatives such as 'tenderly', 'gently', or 'caressingly'. Its interest lies less in everyday usefulness than in its morphology — a doubly suffixed construction ('-ling' plus '-ly') that makes it a genuine curiosity of English word-formation.
adverbIn a manner that involves fondling; with gentle, affectionate stroking or caressing. The word is rare and used chiefly to describe an action performed as a caress.
- In a fondling or caressing manner; with affectionate touching or stroking.
"She lifted the sleeping kitten fondlingly, stroking its fur with slow, tender fingers."
"He ran his hand fondlingly along the polished walnut grain of the antique desk."
"The old dog nuzzled fondlingly against her ankle, seeking attention."
Fondlingly belongs to a tiny family of English adverbs built on '-ling' plus '-ly' — a doubled suffix so awkward that the word has stayed a dictionary curiosity rather than a household term.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fondlingly
Fondlingly derives ultimately from the verb fondle, which emerged in English dialect use in the seventeenth century, probably as a frequentative formation on the adjective 'fond', whose older sense was 'foolish' before it settled into its modern meaning of 'affectionate' or 'doting'. Adding the participial noun 'fondling' and then the adverbial suffix '-ly' produced this doubly derived form, attested as a marginal literary adverb. Its closest relatives are therefore the other derivatives of 'fond' and 'fondle', such as fondness, fondly, and overfond.
Related word forms
How fondlingly is actually used
Fondlingly is a rare, somewhat literary adverb and may strike readers as unusual or even awkward; in most modern writing, phrases such as 'caressingly' or 'with gentle strokes' are more natural choices. Because 'fondle' can carry unwanted sexual connotations in some contexts, care should be taken that the intended innocent, affectionate sense is clear.
Easily confused with fondlingly
A foundling is an abandoned child of unknown parents discovered and cared for by others — entirely unrelated in meaning to fondlingly, despite the similar sound.
Fondling is the noun or verb denoting the act of caressing itself, whereas fondlingly is the adverb describing how such an action is performed.