-ly

1. a suffix forming adverbs from adjectives: gladly; gradually; secondly.

2. a suffix meaning “every,” attached to certain nouns denoting units of time: hourly; daily.

3. an adjective suffix meaning “-like”: saintly; cowardly.

-ly

¹

suffix

1. having the nature or qualities of

   brotherly

   godly

2. occurring at certain intervals; every

   daily

   yearly

-ly

²

suffix

1. in a certain manner; to a certain degree

   quickly

   recently

   chiefly

ly

³

abbreviation

1. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ly¹

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”; like ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ly¹

Old English -lic

Origin of -ly²

Old English -lice, from -lic _-ly ¹

Example Sentences

Other notable weapons included the much-talked about LY-1 laser weapon, which is basically a giant laser that could burn or disable electronics or even blind pilots; and an assortment of fifth-generation stealth fighter jets including the J-20 and J-35 planes.

From BBC

“According to the network, Mr. Dixon did not disclose to human resources or the legal department that a third-party production company had hired his wife as a temporary freelancer,” attorney John Ly wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Last summer, footage of Myra Tran singing at the Westminster funeral of Ly Tong, an anti-communist activist, surfaced online.

From Los Angeles Times

“My thought was ‘I need to get this in,’” Millsap said of her last serve against Canyon’s Erin Ly and Hannah Huang.

From Los Angeles Times

“According to the network, Mr. Dixon did not disclose to human resources or the legal department that a third-party production company had hired his wife as a temporary freelancer,” wrote attorney John Ly, who is representing Dixon in the separate civil lawsuits filed this year by former network anchor and reporter Julie Stewart-Binks and hairstylist Noushin Faraji.

From Los Angeles Times