Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “mightily” come from?

Mightily comes from Middle English mightily, derived from Old English miht meaning power or strength combined with the adverbial suffix -līċ, ultimately tracing to Proto-Germanic galīkaz and Proto-Indo-European roots.

mightily (English): In a mighty manner; with strength or force;...

Definitions

  1. In a mighty manner; with strength or force;...

Ancestry of “mightily”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmightyA warrior of great strength and courage; Very...
2Middle Englishmighty—
3Old Englishmihtiġ—
4Proto-West Germanicmahtīgmighty, powerful
5Proto-Germanicmahtīgazmighty
6Proto-Germanicmahtizpower, ability; strength, force
7Proto-Germanicmahtuzmight, power
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmógʰtis—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵʰ-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ- →