Etymograph

English

clearly

Clearly comes from Middle English clerli.

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500clerli1
  2. Englishearliest quotation 2011clearly1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English clearly
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 2011, David Ornstein, Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton: “While Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had warned his players…”.

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500clerliWiktionary, English clearly
  2. Englishearliest quotation 2011clearlyWiktionary, English clearly. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 2011, David Ornstein, Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton: “While Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had warned his players…”

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Today it means

adv In a clear manner.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “clearly”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Middle English clerli / clearly