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

  1. Completely and entirely; to the fullest extent;...

Ancestry of “wholly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishhollyAlternative form of holy
2Old Englishholeġn—
3Proto-West Germanichulisholly
4Proto-Indo-Europeankel-to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kel- →Every word from Proto-West Germanic hulis →Every word from Old English holeġn →