Where does “beastly” come from?
Beastly comes from Middle English beestely, though the ultimate origin and meaning remain uncertain.
beastly (English): Pertaining to, or having the form, nature, or...
Definitions
- Pertaining to, or having the form, nature, or...
Ancestry of “beastly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bestely | physical; non-spiritual of faculties, knowledge, etc |
| 2 | Middle English | beste | best; superlative degree of good; best;... |
| 3 | Old French | beste | beast, animal |
| 4 | Latin | bēstia | a beast |
Words derived from “beastly”