Where does “unclely” come from?

unclely (English) comes from English Uncle, from Middle English uncle, from Old French uncle, from Latin avunculus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂éwh₂os — maternal grandfather; maternal uncle.

unclely (English): Of, like, or characteristic of an uncle

Definitions

  1. Of, like, or characteristic of an uncle

Ancestry of “unclely”, step by step

unclely traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Uncle

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishUncleradiotelephony clear-code word for the letter U
2Middle Englishuncleuncle (brother of one's parents)
3Old FrenchuncleAlternative form of oncle
4Latinavunculusmaternal uncle, mother's brother; mother's...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éwh₂osmaternal grandfather; maternal uncle

via English ly

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlyAbbreviation of light-year
2VietnameselyAlternative spelling of li
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂éwh₂osEvery word from Latin avunculusEvery word from Old French uncle
unclely — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer