-ly

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Suffix 1.2.1.1 Translations 1.2.1.2 Synonyms 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Suffix 1.3.1.1 Translations 1.3.2 Usage notes

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: lē, IPA: /li/, SAMPA: /li/

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old English -līċ, from Proto-Germanic *-līko- (“‘having the body or form of’”), from *līkom (“‘body’”) (whence lich). Cognate with Dutch -lijk, German -lich and Swedish -lig.

[edit] Suffix

-ly

1. Used to form adjectives from nouns, the adjectives having the sense of "like or characteristic of what is denoted by the noun".

   gentlemanly

[edit] Translations

[edit] Synonyms

• -ish
• -like
• -ous
• -y

[edit] Etymology 2

From Old English -līċe.

[edit] Suffix

-ly

1. Used to form adverbs from adjectives.

   suddenly

[edit] Translations

[edit] Usage notes

• In the English language, -ly is often omitted from adverbs (e.g. badly becomes bad). This is considered improper grammar, and should be corrected. "I want it bad." should be "I want it badly.", for example.