Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “substantively” come from?

Substantively derives from Middle English substantif plus the adverbial suffix -ly, which comes from Old English -līċ meaning "like" or "having the form of," from Proto-Germanic -līkaz, itself from Proto-Indo-European līg- and ḱóm.

substantively (English): In a substantive manner, or to a substantive...

Definitions

  1. In a substantive manner, or to a substantive...

Ancestry of “substantively”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-lyUsed to form adjectives from nouns, the...
2EnglishgrislyHorrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;...
3Middle Englishgrisely—
4Old Englishgrisliċgrisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid
5Old English-līċsuffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning...
6Proto-Germanic*-līk—
Every word from Proto-Germanic *-līk →