Where does “greatly” come from?

Greatly comes from Middle English gretly, of uncertain origin and meaning.

greatly (English): To a great extent or degree; Nobly; magnanimously

Definitions

  1. To a great extent or degree; Nobly; magnanimously

Ancestry of “greatly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgretlygreatly
2Middle Englishgreetgreat
3Old Englishgrēatgreat, large; big, thick, coarse, massive
4Proto-West Germanicgraut—
5Proto-Germanicgrautazcoarse, crude; big, large
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- →Every word from Proto-Germanic grautaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic graut →