Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “theatrically” come from?

Theatrically derives from Middle English -ly, Old English -līċ, Proto-Germanic -līkaz, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European ḱóm, meaning "together" or "with," combined with Proto-Indo-European līg- to form the sense of "in a manner alike or fitting."

theatrically (English): in a theatrical or dramatic manner; In theaters

Definitions

  1. in a theatrical or dramatic manner; In theaters

Ancestry of “theatrically”, 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 →