The spelling of the word "shallowly" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /ˈʃæl.oʊ.li/. The first sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/, followed by a short vowel /æ/ and an /l/ sound. The second syllable starts with a diphthong /oʊ/, then an /l/ and a /i/. The final /y/ is silent. "Shallowly" means to do something in a shallow manner, not going very deep or thorough.
Shallowly is an adverb that pertains to the concept of being shallow or lacking depth. It refers to having little or no depth, both physically and metaphorically. In a physical sense, shallowly describes something with a small depth or low height, such as a shallow pool, shallow water, or a shallow dish.
Metaphorically, shallowly describes someone's character or mindset as lacking depth or intellectual substance. It suggests a superficial and simplistic understanding of people, ideas, or situations. When used in this context, shallowly indicates a lack of profound thought, introspection, or complexity.
Furthermore, shallowly can describe someone's emotions or feelings that are not deeply rooted or sincere. It signifies a superficial display of emotions that lack true depth or authenticity. For instance, when someone superficially sympathizes with others without fully comprehending their emotions or experiences, their empathy is considered shallow.
In summary, shallowly encompasses the literal idea of having little depth physically, whether in terms of water or objects, as well as the metaphorical concept of lacking emotional or intellectual depth. It is used to describe situations, personalities, emotions, or thoughts that lack profoundness, complexity, or sincerity.
The word "shallowly" is derived from the base word "shallow". The term "shallow" can be traced back to the Old English word "sceald" or "scealde", meaning "not deep". This Old English root eventually evolved into the Middle English word "schalowe", maintaining the same meaning. Finally, the word "shallow" was formed in modern English, and the adverb form "shallowly" was derived by adding the suffix "-ly", indicating how something is done.