The word "discriminately" is spelled with five syllables, using the IPA phonetic transcription to explain it, it's dis-krĭm-uh-nāt-lee. The first syllable, "dis," is pronounced as /dɪs/. The second syllable, "krĭm," is pronounced as /krɪm/. The third syllable, "uh," is pronounced as /ə/. The fourth syllable, "nāt," is pronounced as /neɪt/. And the fifth and the last syllable, "lee," is pronounced as /li/. It means to differentiate or distinguish one thing from another based on certain criteria or factors.
Discriminately is an adverb that describes the act or manner of carrying out an action with careful discernment or differentiation, based on distinct qualities or characteristics. It refers to the deliberate selection or treatment of something or someone based on a particular set of criteria or standards, rather than doing so indiscriminately or randomly.
When applied to actions or decisions, doing something discriminately implies making thoughtful choices while considering relevant factors or distinctions. It conveys an approach that aims to separate or distinguish items, individuals, or ideas based on their specific attributes, qualities, or merits. In this sense, an action or decision carried out discriminately is undertaken with a purposeful and thoughtful mindset.
The term can also refer to the treatment of individuals or groups in a fair and unbiased manner, where differences are acknowledged and respected. Acting discriminately in social contexts means basing judgments, opportunities, or treatment on the individual merits or specific characteristics of people, while disregarding any irrelevant factors such as gender, race, or age.
However, it's important to note that the adverb "discriminately" can be used neutrally to describe an action that is conscious and selective, as well as negatively to denote biased or prejudiced behavior, where distinctions or choices are unjustly made based on irrelevant or discriminatory factors. Context is crucial in determining whether "discriminately" is being used in a positive or negative sense.
The word discriminately is derived from the verb discriminate, which comes from the Latin word discriminare. Discriminare combines the prefix dis- (meaning apart or away) with the root word crimen (meaning decision or judgment). The base word discriminate means to make a distinction or differentiate between things based on specific criteria, often with the implication of treating things differently based on these distinctions. The suffix -ly is added to discriminate to form the adverb discriminately.