Where does “bitterly” come from?
Bitterly derives from Middle English bitterli, from Old English biterlīċe, an adverbial formation from the adjective meaning sharp or harsh in taste or manner.
bitterly (English): In a bitter manner
Definitions
- In a bitter manner
Ancestry of “bitterly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bitterli | — |
| 2 | Old English | biterlīċe | bitterly |
| 3 | Old English | -līċe | ly (adverbial suffix) |
| 4 | Old English | -e | forming adverbs from adjectives; -ly |
| 5 | Old English | -en | mæġþ + API → mæġden; cocc + API → cycen, cicen;... |
| 6 | Old Norse | -inn | Used to create adjectives from nouns, meaning... |
| 7 | Proto-Norse | -īna- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | -īnaz | -en |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -iHnos | Creates adjectives of materials |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -no- | adjectival suffix |