Where does “deftly” come from?
Deftly comes from Middle English -ly attached to Old English dæfte, which derives from Proto-Germanic galīkaz and ultimately Proto-Indo-European dʰabʰ-, meaning to fit or be suitable.
deftly (English): In a deft manner; quickly and neatly in action
Definitions
- In a deft manner; quickly and neatly in action
Ancestry of “deftly”, 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 | — |