Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “darkly” come from?

Darkly derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, Proto-Germanic -līkaz, and Proto-Indo-European dʰerg-, a root meaning to hide or conceal.

darkly (English): With a dark appearance; Faintly seen in the dark;...

Definitions

  1. With a dark appearance; Faintly seen in the dark;...

Ancestry of “darkly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishderkly—
2EnglishdarkHaving an absolute or relative lack of light;...
3Middle Englishderkdark
4Old Englishdeorcdark
5Proto-West Germanicderkdirty; dark
6Proto-Germanicderkaz—
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰerg-o-s—
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰerg-to dim, darken; dim, dull; dark, dusky
9Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →