Monday 24 September 2012

Wow, that’s new to me!


What’s the meaning of –ly in words such as smartly, quickly, wisely or exclusively?

      An interesting question, but very difficult to answer for not many grammar books or dictionaries go into the origins. However, some do, and here is an interesting explanation from one such book. The only in smartly or quickly means like. Quick like is quickly, smart like is smartly, and now, don’t ask me what does likely mean? It is a word by itself.

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