The meaning of LY- is degrading : reduction. How to use ly- in a sentence.

The suffix -ly in English is usually a contraction of -like, similar to the Anglo-Saxon -lice and German -lich. [1] It is commonly added to an adjective to form an adverb, but in some cases it is used to form …

-LY definition: 1. in the stated way: 2. when considered in the stated way: 3. regularly after the stated period…. Learn more.

Nov 10, 2025 · As with its adjectival equivalent, -ly is generally the most common variant of this suffix, though in some words, other variants may be more common, such as -lich (e).

-ly is added to nouns to form adjectives that describe someone or something as being like or typical of a particular kind of person or thing. The staff are very friendly. This was a cowardly thing to do.

Definition of -ly suffix in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Britannica Dictionary definition of -LY 1 : similar in appearance, manner, or nature to a (specified) person queen ly father ly 2 : characterized by regular occurrence in (specified) periods of time

-ly is also attached to nouns that refer to units of time, to form adjectives and adverbs with the meaning "at or for every (such unit of time)'': hour + -ly → hourly (= at every hour); day + -ly → daily (= on or …

When is the suffix -ly used? Suffixes can be added to the end of a word to change its meaning. Discover more with this KS1 and KS2 Bitesize English Explainer.

-ly 1. a suffix forming adverbs from adjectives: gladly; gradually; secondly. 2. a suffix meaning “every,” attached to nouns denoting units of time: hourly; daily. 3. an adjective suffix meaning “-like”: saintly; …