Where does “superlatively” come from?
Superlatively derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, Proto-Germanic -līkaz, Proto-Germanic galīkaz, and Proto-Indo-European roots līg- and ḱóm, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European bʰer-.
superlatively (English): In a superlative manner; in the greatest possible...
Definitions
- In a superlative manner; in the greatest possible...
Ancestry of “superlatively”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | superlative | The highest extent or degree of something; The... |
| 2 | Middle English | superlatyf | — |
| 3 | Old French | superlatif | superlative |
| 4 | Latin | superlātīvus | superlative of an adjective |
| 5 | Latin | superlātus | — |
| 6 | Latin | super- | super-; over, above |
| 7 | Latin | super | "accusative" above, on the top of, upon;... |
| 8 | Latin | eks-uper | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | upéri | alternative reconstruction of *upér |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | upér | above; over |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | upó | under, below |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ewp- | — |