Where does “nearly” come from?

Nearly derives from Middle English -ly affixed to near, which comes from Old English -līċ attached to a root from Proto-Germanic neurô meaning "nigh," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European negʷʰrós.

nearly (English): With great scrutiny; carefully; With close...

Definitions

  1. With great scrutiny; carefully; With close...

Ancestry of “nearly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnearPhysically close; Close in time; Closely...
2Middle Englishnerekidney; near; weren't
3Middle Low Germannēre—
4Proto-West Germanic*neurō—
5Proto-Germanicneurôkidney; testicle
6Proto-Indo-Europeannegʷʰróskidney

Words derived from “nearly”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European negʷʰrós →
nearly — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer