Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “roughly” come from?

Roughly derives from Middle English -ly applied to Old English -līċ, from Proto-Germanic -līkaz meaning "like," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃rewk-, līg-, and ḱóm.

roughly (English): In a rough manner; without kindness, softness, or...

Definitions

  1. In a rough manner; without kindness, softness, or...

Ancestry of “roughly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishroughNot smooth; uneven; Approximate; hasty or...
2EnglishruffA circular frill or ruffle on a garment,...
3GermanRufcall; reputation
4Middle High Germanruof—
5Old High Germanruof—
6Old High Germanruofanto call
7Proto-West Germanichrōpanto cry out, to call, to shout
8Proto-Germanichrōpanąto cry out, call, shout
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
11Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →