largely
UK: ˈlɑːdʒli | US: ˈlɑːrdʒli
adv. to a great extent; mostly
adv. in a large manner; generously
The word "largely" combines the adjective "large," derived from Latin largus (meaning "abundant" or "generous"), with the adverbial suffix "-ly," originating from Old English -lice. Over time, "large" evolved in Middle English to signify physical size or scope, while "-ly" systematically converted adjectives into adverbs. Thus, "largely" came to mean "to a great extent" or "generously," reflecting both quantitative and qualitative abundance.
The success of the project was largely due to teamwork.
She donated largely to the charity every year.
His arguments were largely based on outdated data.
The audience consisted largely of young professionals.
The report is largely accurate, with minor errors.