Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “thankfully” come from?

Thankfully derives from Middle English þonkfulliche, from Old English þancfullīċe, an adverb formed from þancfull meaning grateful or mindful.

thankfully (English): In a thankful manner; giving thanks; fortunately,...

Definitions

  1. In a thankful manner; giving thanks; fortunately,...

Ancestry of “thankfully”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishthankfully—
2Old Englishþancfullīċe—
Every word from Old English þancfullīċe →