Wordwyrt

surely

/ˈʃʊəli/SHUUR-lee
/ˈʃʊɹli/SHUUR-lee

Meaningin a sure way

Common meaning: without doubt

Other meanings: used to show surprise or ask for agreement

Journey through time

  1. Proto-Indo-European*skaw-‘look, see, perceive, beware of’source
  2. Latinsecurus‘secure, sure’source
  3. Middle Englishsursource
  4. Englishsure‘certain’
  5. Englishformed in English from suresurely‘without doubt’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Formed in English from sure + -ly.

Dictionary: Skeat (1898), SURE, p.613 · scan

Source words

  • securus Latin · source word “sure, safe”

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