Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “brutally” come from?

Brutally is an English adverb formed from brutal, which derives from Latin brutus, itself traced to Proto-Indo-European gʷréh₂us.

brutally (English): In a brutal manner; viciously, barbarically

Definitions

  1. In a brutal manner; viciously, barbarically

Ancestry of “brutally”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-lyUsed to form adjectives from nouns, the...
2EnglishgrislyHorrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;...
3Middle Englishgrisely—
4Old Englishgrisliċgrisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid
5Old English-līċsuffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning...
6Proto-Germanic*-līk—
Every word from Proto-Germanic *-līk →