Where does “semisweetly” come from?

semisweetly (English) comes from English sweet, from Middle English swete, from Old English swēte, from Proto-West Germanic swōtī, from Proto-Germanic swōtuz, from Proto-Indo-European swéh₂dus, from Proto-Indo-European sweh₂d- — sweet.

semisweetly (English): In a somewhat sweet manner, but with an element of asperity

Definitions

  1. In a somewhat sweet manner, but with an element of asperity

Ancestry of “semisweetly”, step by step

semisweetly traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English sweet

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsweetHaving a pleasant taste, especially one relating...
2Middle Englishswetesweet, pleasant-tasting; sweet in smell;...
3Old Englishswētesweet
4Proto-West Germanicswōtīsweet
5Proto-Germanicswōtuzsweet
6Proto-Indo-Europeanswéh₂dussweet
7Proto-Indo-Europeansweh₂d-sweet

via English semi

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsemiA semi-detached house; A semitrailer; a...
2Englishsemi-half; partial, incomplete; somewhat, rather,...
3Latinsēmi-half
4Proto-Indo-Europeansēmihalf; partially

via English ly

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlyAbbreviation of light-year
2VietnameselyAlternative spelling of li
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sweh₂d-Every word from Proto-Indo-European swéh₂dusEvery word from Proto-Germanic swōtuz