We explain what mutually means, the origin of the term and in which cases it is used. Also, examples in sentences.
What does mutually mean?
When we say that something happens mutually, we mean that it happens mutually, that is, that occurs reciprocally, interchangeably between two people, animals or things. So, for example, a feeling can be mutual (or given mutually) when two people experience it for each other: a mutual love or a mutual hate is something that A feels for B as much as B feels for A.
The word mutually derives from mutual (with the suffix –mindwhich denotes quality of an action), which in turn comes from the Latin mutuusreciprocal form of the verb mutare (change). Something mutual is, in this way, that which is exchanged or can be changed between two referentsand which therefore can be said to occur mutually.
Mutual or reciprocal actions, relationships or conditions, therefore, are contrary to unidirectional, unilateral or singular ones, since the latter occur in a single sense.
For example, for trust to be mutual, it must go in both directions: one person trusts the other and the latter trusts the first. Otherwise, it is unilateral trust: someone trusts another person, but the latter does not trust them, or does not do so to the same degree.
Below are some examples of sentences with “mutually”:
- “Carlos and Juan inspected each other mutually with the look.”
- “The police and the assailants were shooting at each other mutually for hours.”
- “China and the United States continue to threaten each other mutually”.
- “My ex-girlfriend and I broke up, but we still love each other.” mutually”.
- “When we were promoted at work, in the office we congratulated ourselves mutually”.
Continue with: Reciprocity
References
- “Mutually” in the Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “Mutuo, mutual” in the Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “Etymology of mutual” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
