-ly
a suffix forming adverbs from adjectives: gladly; gradually; secondly.
-ly
American-
a suffix forming adverbs from adjectives: gladly; gradually; secondly.
-
a suffix meaning “every,” attached to certain nouns denoting units of time: hourly; daily.
-
an adjective suffix meaning “-like”: saintly; cowardly.
-ly
1
British
suffix
-
having the nature or qualities of
brotherly
godly
-
occurring at certain intervals; every
daily
yearly
-ly
2
British
suffix
ly
3
British
abbreviation
Etymology
Origin of -ly
Middle English adverb -li, -lich(e), Old English -līce ( -līc adjective suffix + -e adverb suffix); Middle English adjective -li, -ly, -lich(e), Old English -līc (cognate with German -lich ), suffixal use of gelīc “similar to, like”; see origin at like 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
And below is a list of most common -ly adverbs by author.
From Slate ● Nov. 21, 2013
Euphonic changes were very arbitrary and various, differing for the same termination; but the adverbial ending -ly was always -osh; terribly, terriblosh.
From The Child and Childhood in Folk-Thought Studies of the Activities and Influences of the Child Among Primitive Peoples, Their Analogues and Survivals in the Civilization of To-Day by Alexander F. Chamberlain
Adverbs in Malay are not distinguished by any prevailing termination corresponding to the English -ly or the French -ment.
From A Manual of the Malay language With an Introductory Sketch of the Sanskrit Element in Malay by Sir William Edward Maxwell
Toward, -ly, tō′ward, -li, adj. ready to do or learn: apt.—ns.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
The adverbs in -ly are likely to go to the wall in the not too distant future for this very reason and in face of their obvious usefulness.
From Language An Introduction to the Study of Speech by Edward Sapir
But will people be driven away from such land by the infrequent floods, or will they accept the occasional inundation, moving away only temporari ly as needed?
From Nature ● Jun. 10, 2018
All galaxies farther away than about 50×106 ly exhibit a red shift in their emitted light that is proportional to distance, with those farther and farther away having progressively greater red shifts.
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
In 1958, When Ray Charles played the Harlem Duke Social Club in the predominantly ly black part of town, only the most adventurous whites might turn up.
From New York Times ● Dec. 31, 2013
Alpha Centauri Closest star, 4.2 ly Click again to skip race.
From Slate ● May 16, 2013
Adverbs can come with or without ly, and many, like slow and slowly, exist in both forms.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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