Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “musically” come from?

Musically derives from English musical plus the Middle English adverbial suffix -ly, which comes from Old English -līċ meaning "like," from Latin -alis, from Ancient Greek μουσική meaning "of the Muses," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots.

musically (English): In a musical manner; In terms of music

Definitions

  1. In a musical manner; In terms of music

Ancestry of “musically”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmusicalOf, belonging or relating to music, or to its...
2Middle Englishmusical—
3Medieval LatinmusicalisOf or pertaining to music; musical
4Latinmūsica—
5Ancient Greekμουσικήnominative feminine singular of μουσικός; any of...
6Ancient GreekμοῦσαAlternative letter-case form of Μοῦσᾰ; music,...
Every word from Ancient Greek μοῦσα →