Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “grimly” come from?

Grimly comes from Middle English grimliche, from Old English grimmliċ, meaning fierce or savage in appearance or manner.

grimly (English): Grim-looking, grim-natured; In a grim manner

Definitions

  1. Grim-looking, grim-natured; In a grim manner

Ancestry of “grimly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgrymly—
2Old Englishgrimlīċe—
Every word from Old English grimlīċe →