Etymology

recklessly

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Today it means: In a rash or reckless manner, without regard for cost or consequence. Full definition →

Middle English reklesly ← Old English rēċelēaslīċe ← Proto-Germanic *līką
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The story

  1. Proto-Germanic*rōkijaną
  2. Proto-West Germanic*rōkijan
  3. Old Englishrēċan
  4. Proto-Indo-European*lewh₁-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*lewHs-
  6. Proto-Germanic*leusaną
  7. Proto-Germanic*lausaz
  8. Old Englishrēċelēas
  9. Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
  10. Proto-Germanic*līką
  11. Old Englishrēċelēaslīċe
  12. Middle Englishreklesly
  13. English todayrecklessly

From Middle English reklesly, from Old English rēcelēaslīce; equivalent to reckless + -ly.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.