Definition of the word innocently

The word "innocently" originated in Middle English during the 14th century. It comes from the Old French word "innocentement," which itself is derived from the Latin words "innocentia" and "innocens," meaning "innocence" or "unharmed." The Latin root words can be traced back to the PIE (Proto-Indo-European) root "neig-," meaning "pure" or "unharmed." The Middle English word "innocentlement" was used as an adverb, and it meant "in an innocent manner" or "without harm or guilt." The word played an important role in the medieval Christian discourse around sin, innocence, and guilt. Innocence was seen as a fundamental characteristic of human nature, which could be sullied by sin, and the notion of inherent innocence was strongly associated with infancy and childhood. In proposing a more complex and nuanced theory of human development, the 18th-century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau challenged the traditional view by suggesting that humans were originally good but became corrupted by society. This idea had a significant impact on the meaning and usage of "innocently" in English literature, as it gave the word a new dimension of moral ambiguity. Over time, the usage of "innocently" evolved, and it became a versatile word with multiple definitions. The Oxford English Dictionary provides several meanings: (1) without guilt or blame, (2) free from knowledge or understanding, (3) carelessly or unwittingly, and (4) simply or purely. Today, "innocently" is a commonly used word in various contexts, from legal proceedings to everyday conversations, reflecting the complexity and ambiguity of human innocence.