Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unnecessarily” come from?

Unnecessarily derives from English unnecessary, itself from Latin necessārius (needed), composed of Latin ne- (not) and Latin cessāre (to cease), ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning restraint and obligation.

unnecessarily (English): In an unnecessary way; not by necessity; To an...

Definitions

  1. In an unnecessary way; not by necessity; To an...

Ancestry of “unnecessarily”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnecessarilyInevitably; of necessity
2EnglishnecessaryRequired, essential, whether logically...
3Middle Englishnecessarye—
4Old Frenchnecessaire—
5Latinnecessārius—
6Latinnecesseunavoidable, "particularly"
7Latincessusconceded, given up, granted, surrendered,...
8Latincēdō—
9Proto-Italickedōgive here!
10Proto-Italickehere
11Indo-European*ḱe—
Every word from Indo-European *ḱe →