Where does “nimbly” come from?
Nimbly derives from the Middle English adverbial suffix -ly, attached to nimble, which comes from Old English -līċ (resembling, like), from Proto-Germanic -līkaz, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "like" or "suitable."
nimbly (English): in a nimble manner
Definitions
- in a nimble manner
Ancestry of “nimbly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | nimble | Adept at taking or grasping; Quick and light in... |
| 2 | Middle English | nymyl | — |
| 3 | Old English | numol | able to take, capable of holding |
| 4 | Old English | niman | to take, seize |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | neman | to take |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | nemaną | to take |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | nem- | to distribute; to give, to take |