Where does “totally” come from?

Totally derives from English total plus the Middle English adverbial suffix -ly, from Old English -līċ (resembling or having the form of), from Proto-Germanic -līkaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm (together).

totally (English): To the fullest extent or degree; Very; extremely;...

Definitions

  1. To the fullest extent or degree; Very; extremely;...

Ancestry of “totally”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtotalAn amount obtained by the addition of smaller...
2Middle Englishtotal—
3Old Frenchtotal—
4Medieval Latintotalistotal
5Latintōtuswhole, all, entire, total, complete, every part
6Latintotso many
7Proto-Indo-Europeantotiso many
8Proto-Indo-Europeansóthis; that

Words derived from “totally”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European só →Every word from Proto-Indo-European toti →Every word from Latin tot →