Where does “largely” come from?
Largely comes from Middle English -ly added to Old English -līċ, from Latin larga and largus meaning "wide or abundant," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots ḱóm and līg-.
largely (English): In a widespread or large manner; For the most...
Definitions
- In a widespread or large manner; For the most...
Ancestry of “largely”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | -ly | Used to form adjectives from nouns, the... |
| 2 | English | grisly | Horrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;... |
| 3 | Middle English | grisely | — |
| 4 | Old English | grisliċ | grisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid |
| 5 | Old English | -līċ | suffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *-līk | — |