-ly


-ly 1

suff.1. Like; resembling; having the characteristics of: sisterly.2. Recurring at a specified interval of time: hourly.
[Middle English -li, from Old English -līc (influenced by Old Norse -ligr); see līk- in Indo-European roots.]

-ly 2

suff.1. In a specified manner; in the manner of: gradually.2. At a specified interval of time: weekly.3. With respect to: partly.
[Middle English -li, from Old English -līce (influenced by Old Norse -liga), from -līc, adj. suff.; see līk- in Indo-European roots.]

-ly

suffix forming adjectives 1. having the nature or qualities of: brotherly; godly. 2. occurring at certain intervals; every: daily; yearly. [Old English -lic]

-ly

suffix forming adverbs in a certain manner; to a certain degree: quickly; recently; chiefly. [Old English -lice, from -lic -ly1]

-ly

1. a suffix forming adverbs from adjectives: gladly; gradually; secondly. 2. a suffix meaning “every,” attached to nouns denoting units of time: hourly; daily. 3. an adjective suffix meaning “-like”: saintly; cowardly. [(adv.) Middle English -li, -lich(e), Old English -līce (-līc adj. suffix + -e adv. suffix); (adj.) Middle English -li, -ly, -lich(e), Old English -līc, suffixal use of gelīc like1]