DictionaryRoot: -ly
English
-ly
in a particular way
Forms
- -ly
- -li- — A spelling sometimes used before another ending.
Origin
Old English -lice, related to lic, “body” or “form,” and the ending that became adjective-forming -ly.
Note
An expression meaning roughly “in the form of” developed into a general way to describe how something happens.
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adverb
particularly
Especially or to an unusual degree.
Etymology
Particularly comes from particular, which concerns an individual part or case. The adverb singles something out as especially relevant or present to a greater degree.
Related word entries
- easily
- effectively
- extremely
- fairly
- formally
- fortunately
- frankly
- frequently
- fully
- gradually
- greatly
- highly
- honestly
- hopefully
- initially
- largely
- literally
- luckily
- mainly
- merely
- mostly
- naturally
- nearly
- necessarily
- nicely
- normally
- notably
- obviously
- occasionally
- originally
- particularly
- perfectly
- personally
- physically
- possibly
- practically
- precisely
- presumably
- previously
- primarily
- probably
- quickly
- quietly
- rapidly
- rarely
- readily
- really
- reasonably
- regularly
- respectively
- roughly
- secondly
- seriously
- sharply
- slightly
- slowly
- strongly
- successfully
- suddenly
- typically