Where does “neatly” come from?

Neatly derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, Latin nitidus meaning "shining," and Proto-Indo-European newd-, līg-, and ḱóm.

neatly (English): In a neat manner

Definitions

  1. In a neat manner

Ancestry of “neatly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishneatClean, tidy; free from dirt or impurities; Free...
2Middle Englishnete—
3Anglo-Normanneitgood, desireable, clean
4Old Frenchnetneat, decent
5Vulgar Latinnittus—
6Latinnitidusshining, polished, glittering; handsome,...
7Latinniteresecond-person singular future active indicative...
8LatinniteoI am radiant, shine, look bright, glitter,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanney-to shine; to be aroused, shine; to be excited
10Cebuano-hi—
Every word from Cebuano -hi →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ney- →Every word from Latin niteo →