Where does “ideally” come from?
Ideally derives from English ideal, which comes from French idéal, Old English -līċ, Latin idea meaning "form or pattern," and Ancient Greek ἰδέα, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European weyd- and ḱóm.
ideally (English): In an ideal way; perfectly; Given ideal...
Definitions
- In an ideal way; perfectly; Given ideal...
Ancestry of “ideally”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | ideal | Optimal; being the best possibility; Perfect,... |
| 2 | French | idéal | ideal |
| 3 | Latin | ideālis | — |
| 4 | Latin | idea | idea; prototype |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἰδέα | form, shape; look, appearance, semblance; type,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | εἴδω | to see; I see |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | weyd- | to see |