Where does “madly” come from?
Madly derives from Middle English madly, formed from Middle English mad plus the adverbial suffix Middle English -ly, itself from Old English -līċ, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European mag- meaning "to knead or mix."
madly (English): In a mad manner; without reason or understanding;...
Definitions
- In a mad manner; without reason or understanding;...
Ancestry of “madly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | madly | Alternative form of madli |
| 2 | Middle English | madli | madly, insanely; idiotically, stupidly |
| 3 | Middle English | mad | Mad, insane, deranged; not of sound mind;... |
| 4 | Old English | ġemǣd | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | maidijaną | to exchange, change |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | maidaz | hurt, wounded; mad, foolish; angry, enraged |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy- | soft, tender, dear |