Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “narrowly” come from?

Narrowly comes from Middle English narowly, formed from Middle English -ly (from Old English -līċ, from Proto-Germanic *-līkaz) attached to a root from Proto-Germanic narwaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)ner- and līg-.

narrowly (English): In a narrow manner; without flexibility or...

Definitions

  1. In a narrow manner; without flexibility or...

Ancestry of “narrowly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-lyUsed to form adjectives from nouns, the...
2EnglishgrislyHorrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;...
3Middle Englishgrisely—
4Old Englishgrisliċgrisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid
5Old English-līċsuffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning...
6Proto-Germanic*-līk—
Every word from Proto-Germanic *-līk →