Etymology

orderly

or·der·ly
O1R1D2E1R1L1Y4

Today it means: Neat and tidy; possessing order. Full definition →

First used 15th c.Proto-Germanic *līką ← Proto-Indo-European *leyg- ← English order
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂er-
  2. Proto-Italic*ordō
  3. Latinōrdinem
  4. Old Frenchordne
  5. Middle Englishordre
  6. Englishorder
  7. Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
  8. Proto-Germanic*līką
  9. English todayorderly

From order + -ly.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 15th c. According to good order or practice; appropriately, in a well-behaved or orderly (adjective) way.
  • 15th–19th c. In order; in a particular order or succession; with a suitable arrangement.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.