— expletively , adv.
/ek"spli tiv/ , n.
1. an interjectory word or expression, frequently profane; an exclamatory oath.
2. a syllable, word, or phrase serving to fill out.
3. Gram. a word considered as regularly filling the syntactic position of another, as it in It is his duty to go, or there in There is nothing here.
adj.
4. Also, expletory /ek"spli tawr'ee, -tohr'ee/ . added merely to fill out a sentence or line, give emphasis, etc.: Expletive remarks padded the speech.
[ 1600-10; expletivus serving to fill out, equiv. to L explet ( us ) filled, filled up (ptp. of explere; see EXPLEMENT) + -ivus -IVE ]