Where does “decently” come from?
Decently derives from Middle French décent, which combined Old English -līċ (suffix meaning "like" or "having the quality of") with Proto-Germanic roots tracing to Proto-Indo-European ḱóm (together) and līg- (to lie).
decently (English): In a decent manner; To a reasonable or acceptable...
Definitions
- In a decent manner; To a reasonable or acceptable...
Ancestry of “decently”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ly | Used to form adjectives from nouns, the... |
| 2 | English | grisly | Horrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;... |
| 3 | Middle English | grisely | — |
| 4 | Old English | grisliċ | grisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid |
| 5 | Old English | -līċ | suffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *-līk | — |