Where does “solely” come from?
Solely comes from Middle English soly, though the ultimate origin and original meaning remain uncertain.
solely (English): Alone; exclusively
Definitions
- Alone; exclusively
Ancestry of “solely”, step by step
solely traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English soly
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | soly | — |
via Vulgar Latin *sōliculum
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vulgar Latin | *sōliculum | — |