Where does “overwhelmingly” come from?

Overwhelmingly derives from English overwhelm combined with Old English -līċ, from Proto-Germanic -līkaz and galīkaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European līg- and ḱóm meaning "together" or "with."

overwhelmingly (English): In an overwhelming manner; very greatly or...

Definitions

  1. In an overwhelming manner; very greatly or...

Ancestry of “overwhelmingly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-lyUsed to form adjectives from nouns, the...
2EnglishgrislyHorrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;...
3Middle Englishgrisely
4Old Englishgrisliċgrisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid
5Old English-līċsuffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning...
6Proto-Germanic*-līk
Every word from Proto-Germanic *-līkEvery word from English -lyEvery word from Old English -līċ