Where does “approximately” come from?
Approximately derives from Latin approximatus, the past participle of approximare, meaning "to draw near," formed from the prefix ad- "to" and proximus "nearest."
approximately (English): Imprecise but close to in quantity or amount
Definitions
- Imprecise but close to in quantity or amount
Ancestry of “approximately”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ly | Used to form adjectives from nouns, the... |
| 2 | English | grisly | Horrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;... |
| 3 | Middle English | grisely | — |
| 4 | Old English | grisliċ | grisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid |
| 5 | Old English | -līċ | suffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *-līk | — |