Where does “absolutely” come from?
Absolutely comes from Middle English -ly added to Middle French absolut, from Latin absolutus, the past participle of absolvo meaning to set free or release, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm.
absolutely (English): In an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly,...
Definitions
- In an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly,...
Ancestry of “absolutely”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | absolute | Free of restrictions, limitations, qualifications... |
| 2 | Middle English | absolut | — |
| 3 | Middle French | absolut | — |
| 4 | Latin | absolūtus | concluded, finished, complete, having been ended |
| 5 | Latin | absolvō | to release, discharge |
| 6 | Latin | solvo | to loosen, untie, undo; free [up], release, acquit, exempt |
| 7 | Latin | sē- | apart-; aside-; away |
| 8 | Latin | sex | six; 6 |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | seks | six |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | swéḱs | six |