Where does “virtually” come from?
Virtually derives from English virtual plus the adverbial suffix -ly, from Middle English -ly and Old English -līċ, ultimately from Latin virtus meaning "manliness" or "excellence," from Latin vir meaning "man."
virtually (English): Almost but not quite; Without exaggeration; In...
Definitions
- Almost but not quite; Without exaggeration; In...
Ancestry of “virtually”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | vertually | Inherently; using an inherent attribute useful as an effect |
| 2 | Middle English | vertual | Having an inherent attribute useful as an effect;... |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | virtualis | worthy, virtuous |
| 4 | Latin | virtūs | manhood, manliness, virility |
| 5 | English | virtue | Accordance with moral principles; conformity of... |
| 6 | Middle English | vertu | An ability, specialty, or feature; Power,... |
| 7 | Anglo-Norman | vertu | valour; honour; goodness; virtue |
| 8 | Latin | virtutem | accusative singular of virtūs; virtue |
| 9 | Latin | virtus | manhood, manliness, virility; courage,... |
| 10 | Latin | vir | man in the sense of "adult male human"; adult,... |
| 11 | Proto-Italic | wiros | a man |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | wiHrós | man; husband; warrior, hero |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | weyh₁- | to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute |