Where does “willowily” come from?

willowily (English) comes from English willowy, from English Willow, from Middle English wilwe, from Old English weliġ, from Proto-West Germanic wilig, from Proto-Germanic wiligaz, from Proto-Indo-European weliḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European wēl- — to see, perceive.

willowily (English): In a willowy manner

Definitions

  1. In a willowy manner

Ancestry of “willowily”, step by step

willowily traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English willowy

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwillowyResembling a willow; Tall, slender and graceful;...
2EnglishWillowof modern usage
3Middle Englishwilwewillow
4Old Englishweliġwell-to-do, prosperous, rich; willow
5Proto-West Germanicwiligwillow
6Proto-Germanicwiligaz
7Proto-Indo-Europeanweliḱ-willow
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwēl-to see, perceive

via English ly

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlyAbbreviation of light-year
2VietnameselyAlternative spelling of li
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wēl-