Where does “dumbly” come from?

Dumbly comes from Old English -līċ (meaning "in the manner of") applied to dumbaz in Proto-Germanic, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewbʰ- (to be confused) and līg- (to bind), with ḱóm (together) as a formative element.

dumbly (English): mutely; silently

Definitions

  1. mutely; silently

Ancestry of “dumbly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdumbUnable to speak; lacking power of speech; Silent;...
2EnglishdamnTo condemn to hell; To condemn; to declare...
3Middle Englishdampnento damn
4Old Frenchdampnerto damn
5Latindamnōto discredit, find fault, disapprove, reject
6Latindamnumdamage or injury; loss; a fine
7Proto-Italicdapnom
8Proto-Indo-Europeandh₂pnómexpense, investment
9Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂p-to sacrifice; to lose
10Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂-to share, divide
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂-
dumbly — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer