Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “soundly” come from?

Soundly derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, Proto-Germanic gasundaz, and Latin sonus and suus, ultimately tracing to roots meaning sound and self.

soundly (English): In a thorough manner; in manner free of defect or...

Definitions

  1. In a thorough manner; in manner free of defect or...

Ancestry of “soundly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsoundHealthy; Complete, solid, or secure; Having the...
2Middle Englishsound—
3Old Englishsundswimming; sea, water
4Old Norsesundswimming; strait, sound; swimming, sound
5Proto-Germanicsundąswimming; sound, strait
6Proto-Germanicswimmanąto be unsteady; to swim; float
7Proto-Indo-Europeanswem(bʰ)-to bend, turn, swing; to be unsteady, move, swim
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swem(bʰ)- →