Where does “blankly” come from?
Blankly derives from English blank plus the Middle English adverbial suffix -ly, from Old English -līċ meaning "like" or "of the nature of," from Proto-Germanic -līkaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰel- meaning "to swell."
blankly (English): in a blank manner, especially showing no emotion...
Definitions
- in a blank manner, especially showing no emotion...
Ancestry of “blankly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | blank | White or pale; without colour; Free from writing,... |
| 2 | Middle English | blank | — |
| 3 | Old French | blanc | white |
| 4 | Late Latin | blancus | white |
| 5 | Frankish | blank | bright; gleaming, white, blinding; bright,... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *blank | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | blankaz | bright, shining, white, gleaming, blinding |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bhleg- | to shine, white; to shine, burn, scorch |