Where does “outwardly” come from?
Outwardly derives from Middle English outwardly, formed from Middle English outward plus the suffix Middle English -ly, which comes from Old English -līċ, ultimately from Proto-Germanic -līkaz and līką, both rooted in Proto-Indo-European līg-.
outwardly (English): Externally or on the outside, or on the surface;...
Definitions
- Externally or on the outside, or on the surface;...
Ancestry of “outwardly”, step by step
outwardly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English outward
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | outward | outer; located towards the outside; visible,... |
| 2 | English | ward | A warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman;... |
| 3 | Middle English | ward | ward, keeping |
| 4 | Old English | weard | guard; guard, the action of looking out for... |
| 5 | Old English | ōra | ore, unwrought metal |
| 6 | Old English | ēar | sea, ocean; grave, earth |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | ahaz | ear |
| 8 | Proto-Finnic | ahtas | narrow, cramped |
| 9 | Proto-Baltic | anśtas | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énǵʰus | narrow, tight |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enǵʰ- | to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;... |
via Middle English outwardly
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | outwardly | While located at the exterior; While seen at the... |