Deathly
/ˈdɛθ.li/noun
Resembling, associated with, or suggestive of death.
Did you know?The noun death comes from the same ancient Germanic word-family as Old English dēað, while the suffix -ly originally meant “in the manner of” or “having the nature of.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dheu-
“A reconstructed root associated with dying or passing away”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*dauþuz
“Death”
Old English
Old English
dēað
“Death; the end of life”
Middle English
Middle English
deth
“Death”
Middle English
Middle English
dethli
“In a manner relating to death; death-like”
Modern English
English
deathly
“Resembling or suggestive of death”