Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “duly” come from?

Duly comes from Middle English duweliche, formed from Middle English deus and the suffix Middle English -ly, derived from Old English -līċ, ultimately from Latin deus meaning god.

duly (English): In a due, fit, or becoming manner; as it ought to...

Definitions

  1. In a due, fit, or becoming manner; as it ought to...

Ancestry of “duly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishduelysuitably, fittingly; duly, properly; lawfully,...
2Middle EnglishdeweAlternative form of dew; Alternative form of...
3Old FrenchdeüAlternative form of deu
4Latindēbēre—
5Latindē—
6Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
7Latinposteablative singular of postis
8Proto-Italicposti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at
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