Etymograph

English

grimly

Grimly comes from Old English grimlīċe ‘strong accusative feminine singular’.

  1. Old Englishc. 450–1150grimlīċe1‘strong accusative feminine singular’
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500grymly1
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1966grimly1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English grimly
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1966, James Workman, The Mad Emperor: “He looked round and shouted grimly, "As soon as…”.

Lineage

  1. Old Englishc. 450–1150grimlīċeWiktionary, English grimly‘strong accusative feminine singular’
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500grymlyWiktionary, English grimly
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1966grimlyWiktionary, English grimly. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1966, James Workman, The Mad Emperor: “He looked round and shouted grimly, "As soon as…”

Every English word from Old English grimlīċe

Today it means

adv In a grim manner.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “grimly”. 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 / Old English grimlīċe / grimly

Shirt and support for this word