Idiomatically
/ˌɪd.i.əˈmæt.ɪ.kli/noun
In a way that is natural or characteristic of a particular language, style, or speaker.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek idios, meaning “one’s own” or “private,” so “idiomatic” began as language that belonged to a particular people before it became a term for fluent expression.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*s(w)e-
“one’s own, belonging to oneself”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἴδιος (ídios)
“one’s own, private, peculiar”
Late Latin
Latin
idioma
“a peculiarity of language; a distinctive expression”
Middle French
French
idiome
“a language or characteristic mode of expression”
16th Century
English
idiom
“a form of speech peculiar to a language or people”
19th Century
English
idiomatically
“in an idiomatic manner; naturally according to the usage of a language”
Explore more surprising origins