English
holily
Holily comes from Middle English holily, and goes back to Old English hāliġlīċe.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150hāliġlīċe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500holily
- Englishearliest quotation 1648same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150hāliġlīċe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500holily
- Englishearliest quotation 1648same form
Earliest quotation: 1648, Joseph Hall, Choice Helps for a Pious Spirit. […]: “And there are ſome diſpoſitions blame-vvorthy in men, vvhich…”
Formed from holy + -ly
Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos ‘intact’
…
Proto-Germanic *hailagaz ‘holy’
Proto-West Germanic *hailag ‘holy’
Old English hāleġ ‘holy’
Middle English ali
English holy
Every English word from Old English hāliġlīċe
Today it means
adv In a holy way; with sanctity.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English hāliġlīċe / holily