Where does “partly” come from?
Partly derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, and Latin pars, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European per- and ḱóm, expressing division or separation into constituent elements.
partly (English): In part, or to some degree, but not completely
Definitions
- In part, or to some degree, but not completely
Ancestry of “partly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | part | A portion; a component; Duty; responsibility; The... |
| 2 | Middle English | part | part |
| 3 | Old French | partir | to leave; to divide up |
| 4 | Latin | partiō | to share, part, apportion; divide, distribute |
| 5 | Latin | pars | part, side, piece, share; some; faction |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |