Where does “certainly” come from?
Certainly derives from Middle English certeinly, from Old English -līċ, from Latin certus meaning "settled" or "fixed," ultimately from Latin cresco meaning "to grow."
certainly (English): In a way which is certain; with certainty;...
Definitions
- In a way which is certain; with certainty;...
Ancestry of “certainly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | certeynly | Without doubt; certainly, indubitably |
| 2 | Old French | certainement | certainly |
| 3 | Old French | -ment | Used to form adverbs, most of the time equivalent... |
| 4 | Latin | -mentum | instrument, medium, or result of; e.g.... |
| 5 | Latin | -menta | nominative plural of -mentum; accusative plural... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -mn̥ | Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs |