Where does “wildly” come from?

Wildly derives from Middle English wildely, formed from wilde (wild) plus the adverbial suffix -ly, ultimately from Old English wilde meaning untamed or uncontrolled.

wildly (English): In a wild, uncontrolled manner

Definitions

  1. In a wild, uncontrolled manner

Ancestry of “wildly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishwildelyWildly, savagely, ragingly
2Middle EnglishwildeWild, undomesticated, untamed
3Old Englishwildewild, savage
4Proto-West Germanicwilþīwild
5Proto-Germanicwilþijazwild
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂welh₁-to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁-
wildly — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer