Where does “generally” come from?
Generally comes from Middle English generally, from Old French generalment, from Latin generāliter, derived from generālis meaning "of or pertaining to a whole genus or kind."
generally (English): Popularly or widely; As a rule; usually; Without...
Definitions
- Popularly or widely; As a rule; usually; Without...
Ancestry of “generally”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | generally | exceptionlessly, always without exception |
| 2 | Middle English | general | universal, complete; comprehensive, wide-ranging;... |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | general | general |
| 4 | Latin | generalis | general, generic |
| 5 | Latin | genus | birth, origin, lineage, descent; kind, type,... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | genos | lineage, origin |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵénh₁os | race, lineage |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵenh₁- | to produce, to beget, to give birth |