Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “sorely” come from?

sorely (Middle English) comes from Old English sārlīċ, from Old English sār, from Proto-West Germanic sair, from Proto-Germanic sairą, from Proto-Germanic sairaz, from Proto-Indo-European seh₂yro-, from Proto-Indo-European seh₂y- — to bind; to be fierce, afflict; to tie, bind.

sorely (Middle English): strongly, forcefully; in a cruel manner;...

Definitions

  1. strongly, forcefully; in a cruel manner;...

Ancestry of “sorely”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishsārlīċ—
2Old Englishsārpainful, grievous; ache, wound; sore, ache
3Proto-West Germanicsairpainful, sore; pain; wound
4Proto-Germanicsairąwound; sore
5Proto-Germanicsairazsore, painful
6Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂yro-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂y-to bind; to be fierce, afflict; to tie, bind
Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂y- →