entièrement

Entièrement is a French adverb meaning completely, entirely, or fully. It is used to express total extent or completion and can modify a verb, an adjective, or a whole clause. The form is compatible with formal or written French and is common in descriptive or evaluative contexts.

Etymology and formation: Entièrement derives from the feminine form ent ière of the adjective entier (whole, complete) plus the suffix -ment. The root entier comes from Latin integer, meaning whole or intact. In practice, entièrement is chosen to emphasize totality and is often paired with participles or adjectives that describe a state or quality.

Usage notes: Entièrement can appear after the verb or before the adjective it modifies, depending on emphasis and rhythm. Examples include: Le travail est entièrement terminé, Ils étaient entièrement d’accord, Cette solution est entièrement nouvelle. It can also be used with other predicates to stress completeness, as in une aide entièrement gratuite. The adverb contrasts with en entier, a two-word locution meaning “in its entirety” and referring to the whole object rather than the degree of completion.

Synonyms and nuances: Common alternatives include totalement and complètement, which also convey totality but with slightly different nuance or emphasis. Tout à fait is typically used to express a strong affirmation rather than a degree of fulfillment. En comparaison, entièrement emphasizes wholeness or thorough completion, while en entier highlights the sum rather than the process.

See also: en entier; totalement; complètement.