1 -ly | Definition of -ly
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

ly-

combining form
variants: or lyo-

Definition of ly-

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1 : degrading : reduction lyase
2 : dispersed state : dispersion lyophilic

-ly

adjective suffix
\ lē; in some dialects, especially British, Southern, New England, often li but not shown at individual entries\

Definition of -ly (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : like in appearance, manner, or nature : having the characteristics of queenly fatherly
2 : characterized by regular recurrence in (specified) units of time : every hourly weekly

-ly

adverb suffix

Definition of -ly (Entry 3 of 3)

1a : in a (specified) manner slowly
b : at a (specified) time interval annually
2 : from a (specified) point of view eschatologically
3 : with respect to partly
4 : to a (specified) degree relatively
5 : in a (specified) place in a series secondly

Examples of ly- in a Sentence

Adverb suffix

 The paper is published weekly.

History and Etymology for ly-

Combining form

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek lyein to loosen, dissolve — more at lose

Adjective suffix

Middle English, from Old English -līc, -lic; akin to Old High German -līh, -lic, Old English līc body — more at like entry 3

Adverb suffix

Middle English, from Old English -līce, -lice, from -līc, adjective suffix

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for ly-

-ly

adjective suffix
\ lē\

Kids Definition of -ly

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : like : similar to fatherly
2 : happening in each specified period of time : every hourly

-ly

adverb suffix

Kids Definition of -ly (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : in a specified manner slowly
2 : from a specified point of view grammatically

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!