Where does “onely” come from?
onely (English) comes from English only, from Middle English oonly, from Old English ānlīċ, from Old English ān, from Proto-West Germanic ain, from Proto-Germanic ainaz, from Proto-Indo-European óynos — one; single.
onely (English): Obsolete spelling of only
Definitions
- Obsolete spelling of only
Ancestry of “onely”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | only | Alone in a category; Singularly superior; the... |
| 2 | Middle English | oonly | alone, apart; only, sole, unique; peerless,... |
| 3 | Old English | ānlīċ | only |
| 4 | Old English | ān | lonely; entirely alone, solitary, single; one |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | ain | one |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | ainaz | one; some |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | óynos | one; single |