Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “reflectively” come from?

Reflectively derives from English reflect and the Old English suffix -līċ, ultimately combining Latin re- (back) and -ivus (adjective-forming suffix) with Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to bend or turn.

reflectively (English): In a reflective manner; meditatively

Definitions

  1. In a reflective manner; meditatively

Ancestry of “reflectively”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishreflectiveThat reflects, or redirects back to the source;...
2EnglishreflectTo bend back from a surface; To be bent back ...
3Old Frenchreflecter—
4Latinreflectō—
5Latinrĕ-—
6Latinprōdūcō—
7Latinprō-—
8Proto-Italic*pro-—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
11Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →