Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “graciously” come from?

Graciously derives from Middle English -ly adverb-forming suffix added to Middle English gracious, from Old English -līċ, from Latin gratiosus built with the suffix -osus on Latin gratus meaning "pleasing," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷerH-.

graciously (English): In a gracious manner; with grace and courtesy

Definitions

  1. In a gracious manner; with grace and courtesy

Ancestry of “graciously”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgraciouslyfortunately, successfully, well; with good...
2Middle Englishgraciouskind, gracious, polite; forgiving, relenting;...
3Old Frenchgracious—
4Latingrātiōsus—
5Latingrātia—
6Latin-iaUsed to form a feminine abstract noun, usually...
7Latin-iusforming adjectives from nouns; nominative neuter...
8Proto-Italic-jōsForms comparative adjectives
9Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yós →