Where does “lightly” come from?
Lightly comes from Middle English lyghtly, from Old English lēohtlīċe, an adverbial form derived from the adjective meaning "light" in weight or brightness.
lightly (English): In a light manner
Definitions
- In a light manner
Ancestry of “lightly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | lyghtly | — |
| 2 | Old English | lēohtlīċe | lightly, slightly, gently, easily, quickly, without trouble, effort, or force |
| 3 | Old English | -e | forming adverbs from adjectives; -ly |
| 4 | Old English | -en | mæġþ + API → mæġden; cocc + API → cycen, cicen;... |
| 5 | Old Norse | -inn | Used to create adjectives from nouns, meaning... |
| 6 | Proto-Norse | -īna- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -īnaz | -en |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -iHnos | Creates adjectives of materials |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -no- | adjectival suffix |