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
- To the fullest extent or degree; Very; extremely;...
Ancestry of “totally”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | total | An amount obtained by the addition of smaller... |
| 2 | Middle English | total | — |
| 3 | Old French | total | — |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | totalis | total |
| 5 | Latin | tōtus | — |
| 6 | Latin | tot | so many |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | toti | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | só | this; that |
Words derived from “totally”