Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unlawfully” come from?

Unlawfully derives from English unlawful, which combines English un- with English lawful, ultimately tracing through Latin unus and Proto-Indo-European óynos, meaning "one," to the root Proto-Indo-European ḱley-.

unlawfully (English): In a manner not conforming to the law

Definitions

  1. In a manner not conforming to the law

Ancestry of “unlawfully”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishunlawfulProhibited; not permitted by law
2EnglishlawfulConforming to, or recognised by the laws of...
3Middle EnglishlawefulLawful; allowed by the law or legal system;...
4Middle EnglishlaweA law, regulation, or a group of them; Morality,...
5Old Englishlagusea, water, lake; the runic character ᛚ; law,...
6Old Norselǫgfate; situation, the condition that one is given...
7Old Norselága felled tree; log; lying tree
8Old Norseleggjato lay, place, put; to make, build
9Proto-Germaniclagjanąto lay, to place in a resting position
10Proto-Indo-Europeanlegʰ-to lie
Every word from Proto-Indo-European legʰ- →