SEEMINGLY
apparently, seemingly, ostensibly, on the face of it
(adverb) from appearances alone; “irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land”; “the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is concerned”; “had been ostensibly frank as to his purpose while really concealing it”-Thomas Hardy; “on the face of it the problem seems minor”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adverb
seemingly (comparative more seemingly, superlative most seemingly)
As it appears; apparently.
In a seemly manner; decorously; with propriety.
Synonyms
• (as it appears): at first blush, ostensibly, prima facie; see also ostensibly
• (in a seemly manner): becomingly, proprietously
Source: Wiktionary
Seem"ing*ly, adv.
Definition: In appearance; in show; in semblance; apparently; ostensibly.
This the father seemingly complied with. Addison.
SEEMING
Seem"ing, a.
Definition: Having a semblance, whether with or without reality; apparent;
specious; befitting; as, seeming friendship; seeming truth.
My lord, you have lost a friend indeed; And I dare swear you borrow
not that face Of seeming sorrow, it is sure your own. Shak.
Seem"ing, n.
1. Appearance; show; semblance; fair appearance; speciousness.
These keep Seeming and savor all the winter long. Shak.
2. Apprehension; judgment. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nothing more clear unto their seeming. Hooker.
His persuasive words, impregned With reason, to her seeming. Milton.
SEEM
Seem, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Seemed; p. pr. & vb. n. Seeming.] Etym:
[OE. semen to seem, to become, befit, AS. s to satisfy, pacify; akin
to Icel. s to honor, to bear with, conform to, s becoming, fit, s to
beseem, to befit, sama to beseem, semja to arrange, settle, put
right, Goth. samjan to please, and to E. same. The sense is probably
due to the adj. seemly. sq. root191. See Same, a., and cf. Seemly.]
Definition: To appear, or to appear to be; to have a show or semblance; to
present an appearance; to look; to strike one's apprehension or fancy
as being; to be taken as. "It now seemed probable." Macaulay.
Thou picture of what thou seem'st. Shak.
All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all. Milton.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof
are the ways of death. Prov. xiv. 12.
It seems, it appears; it is understood as true; it is said.
A prince of Italy, it seems, entertained his misstress on a great
lake. Addison.
Syn.
– To appear; look.
– Seem, Appear. To appear has reference to a thing's being
presented to our view; as, the sun appears; to seem is connected with
the idea of semblance, and usually implies an inference of our mind
as to the probability of a thing's being so; as, a storm seems to be
coming. "The story appears to be true," means that the facts, as
presented, go to show its truth; "the story seems to be true," means
that it has the semblance of being so, and we infer that it is true.
"His first and principal care being to appear unto his people such as
he would have them be, and to be such as he appeared." Sir P. Sidney.
Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. Queen. If it be, Why seems it so
particular with thee Ham. Seems, madam! Nay, it is; I know not
"seems." Shak.
Seem, v. t.
Definition: To befit; to beseem. [Obs.] Spenser.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition