-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
The emphasis on the "-ly" was so pronounced, almost spasmodic, as to bring forth another laughing applause.
From Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains or, A Christmas Success against Odds by Stella M. Francis
The older language, however, shows that they are compounds; since -ly is nothing else than -lic, Anglo-Saxon; -lih, Old High German; -leiks, Mœso-Gothic; = like, or similis, and equally with it an independent separate word.
From A Handbook of the English Language by R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham
Brightly, bravely.—Here an adjective is rendered adverbial by the addition of the derivative syllable -ly.
From A Handbook of the English Language by R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham
In some cases adverbs with -ly are used side by side with those without -ly, but with a different meaning.
From An English Grammar by James Witt Sewell
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
Assuming a circular orbit 30,000 ly in radius and an orbital speed of 250 km/s, how many years does it take for one revolution?
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
Andromeda Galaxy Closest galaxy, 2.5 million ly Click again to skip race.
From Slate ● May 16, 2013
Po ly was having difficulty finding each new breath.
From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper
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