Where does “closely” come from?

Closely derives from English close, from French clos, from Latin clausum (past participle of claudere, meaning to shut or close), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kel-.

closely (English): In a close manner; secretly; privately

Definitions

  1. In a close manner; secretly; privately

Ancestry of “closely”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcloseTo remove a gap; To finish, to terminate; To come...
2Middle Englishclosento close, enclose
3Old Englishclȳsanto close, shut
4Old Englishklūsijanto close, shut in
5Latinclausumenclosed space, enclosure; nominative neuter...
6Latinclaususclosed, inaccessible; having been closed;...
7Latinclauderepresent active infinitive of claudō;...
8LatinclaudoI shut, close, lock; I imprison, confine; I...
9Proto-Italicklaudōclose

Words derived from “closely

Every word from Proto-Italic klaudō
closely — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer