Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “commonly” come from?

Commonly derives from Middle English -ly adverb suffix added to common, which comes from Old English -līċ, from Latin commūnis meaning "shared," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm meaning "together."

commonly (English): as a rule; frequently; usually; in common;...

Definitions

  1. as a rule; frequently; usually; in common;...

Ancestry of “commonly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcomunly—
2Middle Englishcomun—
3Anglo-Normancomuncommon
4Old Frenchcomuncommon
5Latincommūnis—
6Old Latincom(m)oinis—
7Proto-Italickommoinis—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱom-moy-ni-held in common
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →