Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “gaynly” come from?

gaynly (Middle English) comes from Middle English gayn, from Old Norse gegn, from Proto-Germanic gagin — towards, in the direction of; against.

gaynly (Middle English): hastily, imminently; appropriately, correctly;...

Definitions

  1. hastily, imminently; appropriately, correctly;...

Ancestry of “gaynly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgayndirect, straight, fast, expeditious; gracious,...
2Old Norsegegnstraight, direct; fit, serviceable; direct,...
3Proto-Germanicgagintowards, in the direction of; against

Words derived from “gaynly”

  • ungainly
  • ungainliness
  • gainly
  • gainliness
  • geȝȝnlike
  • geynliche
Every word from Proto-Germanic gagin →