English
thankfully
Thankfully comes from Middle English thankfully, and goes back to Old English þancfullīċe.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150þancfullīċe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500thankfully
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1598same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150þancfullīċe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500thankfully
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1598same form
Earliest quotation: c. 1596–1598, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice: “Gratiano: […]I owe you much, and, like a wilful…”
Every English word from Old English þancfullīċe
Today it means
adv In a thankful manner; giving thanks.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English þancfullīċe / thankfully