English
absolutely
Absolutely comes from Middle English absolutly.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500absolutly
- Englishearliest quotation 1926absolutely
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500absolutly
- Englishearliest quotation 1926absolutely
Earliest quotation: 1926, Nicomachus of Gerasa, Frank Egleston Robbins: “Another characteristic of numbers, which does not concern their…”
Formed from absolute + -ly
Latin absolvō ‘loosen’
Latin absolūtus ‘unconditional’
Middle French absolut
Middle English absolut
English absolute
first attested First attested in 1425 (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in 1425.
Every English word from Middle English absolutly
Today it means
adv In an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly, positively, wholly.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English absolutly / absolutely