Where does “wholly” come from?
Wholly derives from Middle English holily, from Middle English holy plus the Middle English suffix -y, which comes from Middle French -ie, Latin -ium, and Proto-Indo-European -kos, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root ḱel- meaning to drive or impel.
wholly (English): Completely and entirely; to the fullest extent;...
Definitions
- Completely and entirely; to the fullest extent;...
Ancestry of “wholly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | holly | Alternative form of holy |
| 2 | Old English | holeġn | — |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | hulis | holly |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | kel- | to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet |