Where does “powerfully” come from?

Powerfully derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, and Proto-Germanic -līkaz, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "form" or "body."

powerfully (English): In a powerful manner

Definitions

  1. In a powerful manner

Ancestry of “powerfully”, 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
powerfully — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer