Where does “doubtfully” come from?
Doubtfully derives from Middle English doutefulli, which combined doute (to doubt) with the adverbial suffix -fully, ultimately tracing uncertainty and hesitation in expression.
doubtfully (English): In a doubtful manner, in context of doubt or...
Definitions
- In a doubtful manner, in context of doubt or...
Ancestry of “doubtfully”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | dowtfully | — |