Where does “steadfastly” come from?
Steadfastly derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, and Proto-Germanic -līkaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂-, meaning to stand or be firm.
steadfastly (English): In a steadfast manner; firmly; with conviction
Definitions
- In a steadfast manner; firmly; with conviction
Ancestry of “steadfastly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | stedefastly | — |
| 2 | Middle English | -ly | Alternative form of -liche |
| 3 | Old English | -līċ | suffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *-līk | — |