Etymology

namely

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Today it means: Specifically; that is to say. Full definition →

Middle English namely
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namely · adverb1

  1. Middle English · inherited fromnamely
  2. English todaynamely

From Middle English namely, nameliche, namelike, equivalent to name + -ly. Cognate with Saterland Frisian nämmelk, West Frisian nammentlik, Dutch namelijk, German Low German nämlich, German nämlich, Danish nemlig, Swedish nämligen, Icelandic nefnilega.

namely · adjective2

  1. Middle English · inherited fromnamely
  2. English todaynamely

From Middle English namely, namly, equivalent to name + -ly.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.