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
carefully
With attention to avoiding mistakes or harm.
Etymology
Old English caru expressed concern. Careful developed the idea of attentive concern, and -ly applies that quality to how an action is performed, with mistakes or harm in mind.
Related word entries
- absolutely
- actually
- apparently
- approximately
- badly
- basically
- briefly
- carefully
- certainly
- clearly
- closely
- commonly
- completely
- constantly
- correctly
- deeply
- definitely
- deliberately
- differently
- directly
- entirely
- equally
- exactly
- gently
- happily
- hardly
- heavily
- immediately
- increasingly
- inevitably
- loudly
- newly
- partly
- properly
- purely
- recently
- relatively
- sadly
- shortly
- significantly
- similarly
- simply
- subsequently
- surely
- surprisingly
- terribly
- totally
- truly
- ultimately
- unfortunately
- usually
- virtually
- widely