Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “soldierly” come from?

Soldierly derives from Middle English -ly affixed to soldier, from Old English -līċ (resembling or having the nature of), from Proto-Germanic -līkaz, which combines Proto-Germanic galīkaz with Proto-Indo-European līg- and Proto-Indo-European ḱóm.

soldierly (English): In the way of, or appropriate to, a soldier

Definitions

  1. In the way of, or appropriate to, a soldier

Ancestry of “soldierly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsoldierA member of an army, of any rank; A private in...
2Middle Englishsoudeour—
3Old Frenchsoudier—
4Medieval Latinsoldariussoldier; mercenary
5Late Latinsolidusa gold coin of the Roman Empire; type of coin;...
6Proto-Italicsoliðos—
7Proto-Indo-Europeansolh₂-i-dʰ-o-sentire
8Proto-Indo-Europeansolh₂-whole

Words derived from “soldierly”

  • unsoldierly
  • soldierliness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European solh₂- →