Where does “properly” come from?
Properly derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, Latin proprius, and Proto-Germanic galīkaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "one's own" and "together."
properly (English): in a proper manner, appropriately, suitably;...
Definitions
- in a proper manner, appropriately, suitably;...
Ancestry of “properly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | -ly | Used to form adjectives from nouns, the... |
| 2 | English | grisly | Horrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;... |
| 3 | Middle English | grisely | — |
| 4 | Old English | grisliċ | grisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid |
| 5 | Old English | -līċ | suffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *-līk | — |