Etymology

merely

M3E1R1E1L1Y4

Today it means: Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more. Full definition →

First used 16th c.Middle English mereli
Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

  1. Middle English · inherited frommereli
  2. English todaymerely

From Middle English mereli, equivalent to mere + -ly.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 16th c. Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more.
  • 16th–20th c. Wholly, entirely.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.