Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “clandestinely” come from?

Clandestinely derives from English clandestine, from French clandestin, from Old English -līċ and Proto-Germanic -līkaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm meaning "together" and līg- meaning "to lie."

clandestinely (English): In a secret or covert manner; In an illicit way,...

Definitions

  1. In a secret or covert manner; In an illicit way,...

Ancestry of “clandestinely”, 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 →