Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “inwardly” come from?

Inwardly derives from Middle English -ly and Old English -līċ, suffixes from Proto-Germanic -līkaz meaning "body-like" and galīkaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European līg- and ḱóm.

inwardly (English): In an inward manner; on the inside or to oneself;...

Definitions

  1. In an inward manner; on the inside or to oneself;...

Ancestry of “inwardly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishinwardSituated on the inside; that is within, inner;...
2Middle Englishinwardinwards, to the interior, especially referring...
3Old Englishinweardinternal, inward, internal; within
4Old Englishweardguard; guard, the action of looking out for...
5Old Englishōraore, unwrought metal
6Old Englishēarsea, ocean; grave, earth
7Proto-Germanicahazear
8Proto-Finnicahtasnarrow, cramped
9Proto-Balticanśtas—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énǵʰusnarrow, tight
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enǵʰ-to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enǵʰ- →