Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “quaintly” come from?

Quaintly derives from Middle English -ly affixed to quaint, which comes from Old English -līċ, ultimately from Latin cognitus meaning "known," combined with the Latin suffix -ivus and prefix con-.

quaintly (English): In a quaint manner; oddly; strangely

Definitions

  1. In a quaint manner; oddly; strangely

Ancestry of “quaintly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishquaintOf a person: cunning, crafty; Cleverly made;...
2Middle Englishqueynteintelligent, smart, well-thought, sagacious,...
3Anglo-Normancointeclever; intelligent
4Latincognitusknown , recognised, having been recognised;...
5Latincognōscere—
6Latinco-allomorph of con-
7Latincōn-—
8Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
9Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
10Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt—
14Germankitt—
15Old High Germankuti—
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
19Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →