-ly

-ly ¹

suff.

1. Like; resembling; having the characteristics of: sisterly.

2. Recurring at a specified interval of time: hourly.

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[Middle English -li, from Old English -līc (influenced by Old Norse -ligr); see līk- in Indo-European roots.]

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-ly ²

suff.

1. In a specified manner; in the manner of: gradually.

2. At a specified interval of time: weekly.

3. With respect to: partly.

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[Middle English -li, from Old English -līce (influenced by Old Norse -liga), from -līc, adj. suff.; see līk- in Indo-European roots.]

-ly

suffix forming adjectives

1. having the nature or qualities of: brotherly; godly.

2. occurring at certain intervals; every: daily; yearly.

[Old English -lic]

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-ly

suffix forming adverbs

in a certain manner; to a certain degree: quickly; recently; chiefly.

[Old English -lice, from -lic -ly¹]

-ly

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

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

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

[(adv.) Middle English -li, -lich(e), Old English -līce (-līc adj. suffix + -e adv. suffix); (adj.) Middle English -li, -ly, -lich(e), Old English -līc, suffixal use of gelīc like¹]