Where does “ably” come from?
Ably is an English adverb formed from the adjective able plus the Old English -līċ suffix, which derives from Proto-Germanic -līkaz and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "like" or "body."
ably (English): In an able manner; with great ability
Definitions
- In an able manner; with great ability
Ancestry of “ably”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | able | — |
| 2 | Old French | able | able; capable |
| 3 | Latin | habilis | able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient... |
| 4 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |