Where does “positively” come from?

Positively comes from Middle English -ly adverbializing Latin positivus, derived from Latin -ivus forming adjectives from Proto-Indo-European -iHwós, ultimately from roots meaning "to bind" and "together."

positively (English): In a positive manner; With certainty; Very

Definitions

  1. In a positive manner; With certainty; Very

Ancestry of “positively”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpositiveNot negative or neutral; Formally laid down;...
2Old Frenchpositif—
3Latinposītivuspositive
4Latinpōnōto place; to put; to lay
5Proto-Italicpoznō—
6Proto-Italicpozinō—
7Proto-Italicsinō—

Words derived from “positively”

Every word from Proto-Italic sinō →