Where does “secondarily” come from?
Secondarily derives from Middle English secundarili, formed from Middle English -ly added to Latin secundarius, which combines Latin sequor (to follow) with Latin -arius, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sekʷ- (to follow).
secondarily (English): With lesser importance; In a secondary manner or...
Definitions
- With lesser importance; In a secondary manner or...
Ancestry of “secondarily”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | secundarili | Secondly; having the second place or for the... |
| 2 | Middle English | secundarie | Secondary; lesser in import, meaning or... |
| 3 | Latin | secundārius | second-class, second-rate, of inferior quality |
| 4 | Latin | secundus | second, the ordinal number after prīmus and... |
| 5 | Latin | sequor | I follow, come or go after |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | sekʷōr | follow, come/go after |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sékʷetor | to be following |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sekʷ- | to follow; to see; to say |