-ally

/li//ə.li/

A form of -ly — Used to form adjectives from nouns, the adjectives having the sense of "behaving like, or having a nature typical of what is denoted by the noun" Similar in meaning to -like but most often paired with animate nouns.

OriginProto-Germanic *līką ← Proto-Indo-European *leyg- →
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Meanings

suffix-ally (adverb-forming suffix, comparative more -ally, superlative most -ally)

comparative more -ally · superlative most -ally · alternative ⠠⠽

  1. alternativeAlternative form of -ly (adverbial suffix), used with adjectives ending in -ic.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  3. Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
  4. Proto-Germanic*līką
  5. English-ally

From Middle English -ally, -alliche, a combination equivalent to -al (adjectival suffix) + -ly (adverbial suffix). The Middle English suffix was originally non-productive, and was from -ly adverbs based on nouns ending an -al. In modern usage the suffix has been reanalyzed and is now treated as a separate, productive suffix.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Sounds the same

-ly
Cite this entry
APA

-ally. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ally

MLA

“-ally.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ally. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-ally,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ally.

Source: -ally on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.