Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unduly” come from?

Unduly comes from English undue, from Latin unus meaning one, tracing to Proto-Indo-European óynos, with the adverbial suffix from Latin -inus.

unduly (English): Undeservedly; in a way that is not warranted

Definitions

  1. Undeservedly; in a way that is not warranted

Ancestry of “unduly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdulyIn a due, fit, or becoming manner; as it ought to...
2Middle Englishduelysuitably, fittingly; duly, properly; lawfully,...
3Middle EnglishdeweAlternative form of dew; Alternative form of...
4Old FrenchdeüAlternative form of deu
5Latindēbēre—
6Latindē—
7Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
8Latinposteablative singular of postis
9Proto-Italicposti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at
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