Where does “merely” come from?
Merely derives from English mere, Maori mere, Old English -līċ, Latin merus meaning pure, Proto-Indo-European mer-, Proto-Indo-European līg-, and Proto-Indo-European ḱóm.
merely (English): Wholly, entirely; Without any other reason etc.;...
Definitions
- Wholly, entirely; Without any other reason etc.;...
Ancestry of “merely”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | mere | A body of standing water, such as a lake or a... |
| 2 | Middle English | mere | mare; mother; sea, lake |
| 3 | Old English | mere | lake; pool; sea |
| 4 | Old English | byriġ | — |
| 5 | Old English | burh | Alternative form of burg; fortress; hill |
| 6 | Old English | burg | city; town; a fortified place: stronghold, fort,... |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | burgz | fortification, stronghold; city |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰr̥ǵʰ- | — |