Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “invariably” come from?

Invariably derives from English invariable, from Old English -līċ meaning resembling or having the quality of, from Latin in- and Latin in meaning not and in, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ne and oyd- meaning not and appearance, combined with Proto-Indo-European ḱóm meaning together.

invariably (English): Every time; always, without change

Definitions

  1. Every time; always, without change

Ancestry of “invariably”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishinvariableNot variable; unalterable; uniform; always having...
2EnglishvariableAble to vary or be varied; Likely to vary; Marked...
3Old Frenchvariable—
4Latinvariāre—
5Latinvariusdiverse, different, various, variegated
6Latinvārus—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂wer-to lift up; to moisten; to flow; to raise, hang
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
9Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →