Interpretatively

Interpretatively is an English adverb meaning “in an interpretive manner” or “in a way that concerns interpretation.” It is the adverbial form of the adjective interpretative and is used to describe readings, analyses, or explanations that are themselves interpretive rather than merely descriptive.

In scholarly writing, interpretatively signals that a claim depends on perspective, theoretical framework, or contextual assumptions. It helps distinguish between what is observed or stated and how that evidence is interpreted. For instance, a critic might read a text interpretatively to foreground symbolism or social critique.

Fields such as literary criticism, philosophy, law, anthropology, and historiography use the term to qualify analytical methods or readings. The word often accompanies phrases like “read interpretatively” or “an interpretatively informed analysis” to indicate methodological stance.

Origin and form: The adverb is formed from the adjective interpretative by adding -ly. The adjective itself derives from the verb interpretare, from Latin.

Related terms include interpretive, interpretation, and interpretation theory.