-ly
a suffix forming adverbs from adjectives:
gladly; gradually; secondly.
see grammar note at adverb.
a suffix meaning “every,” attached to certain nouns denoting units of time:
hourly; daily.
an adjective suffix meaning “-like”:
saintly; cowardly.
synonyms
-ly1
suffix
having the nature or qualities of brotherly, godly
occurring at certain intervals; every daily, yearly
word origin
-ly2
suffix
in a certain manner; to a certain degree quickly, recently, chiefly
word origin
-ly
suffix forming adjectives from nouns, “having qualities of, appropriate to, fitting,” irregularly descended from o.e. -lic, from p.gmc. –liko- (cf. o.fris. -lik, du. -lijk, o.h.g. -lih, ger. -lich, o.n. -ligr), related to -likom- “appearance, form” (cf. o.e. lich “corpse, body;” see lich, which is a cognate; cf. also like (adj.), with which it is identical).
-ly
adv. ending, from o.e. -lice, from p.gmc. –liko- (cf. o.fris. -like, o.s. -liko, du. -lijk, o.h.g. -licho, ger. -lich, o.n. -liga, goth. -leiko); see -ly (1). cognate with lich, and identical with like (adj.).
“it is curious that teut[onic] uses ‘body’ for the adv. formation, while rom[anic] uses ‘mind,’ e.g. f. constamment = l. constanti mente.” [weekley]
the modern english form emerged in late m.e., probably from influence of o.n. -liga.
Read Also:
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chiefly british variant of -lyze.
- -lysis
a combining form with the meaning “breaking down, loosening, decomposition,” used in the formation of compound words: -n-lysis; electrolysis; paralysis. -lysis combining form indicating a loosening, decomposition, or breaking down electrolysis, paralysis word origin -lysis scientific/medical suffix meaning “loosening, dissolving, dissolution,” from gk. lysis “a loosening, setting free, releasing, dissolution,” from lyein “to unfasten, loose, […]
- -lyte
a combining form used in the formation of compound words that denote something subjected to a certain process (indicated by a noun ending in -lysis, ): electrolyte. -lyte2 variant of -lite. -lyte combining form indicating a substance that can be decomposed or broken down electrolyte word origin -lyte suff. a substance that can be decomposed […]
- -lytic
a combining form occurring in adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -lysis: -n-lytic; paralytic. -lytic combining form indicating a loosening or dissolving paralytic word origin -lytic suff. of, relating to, or causing a specified kind of decomposition: lymphatolytic.
- -lyze
a combining form occurring in verbs that correspond to nouns ending in -lysis: catalyze. -lyze suff. to cause or undergo lysis: hydrolyze.