Where does “slovenly” come from?
Slovenly derives from Middle English -ly and Old English -līċ, both suffixal forms ultimately tracing through Proto-Germanic -līkaz and galīkaz to Proto-Indo-European līg- and ḱóm.
slovenly (English): Having an untidy appearance; unkempt; Dirty,...
Definitions
- Having an untidy appearance; unkempt; Dirty,...
Ancestry of “slovenly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ly | Used to form adjectives from nouns, the... |
| 2 | English | grisly | Horrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;... |
| 3 | Middle English | grisely | — |
| 4 | Old English | grisliċ | grisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid |
| 5 | Old English | -līċ | suffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *-līk | — |