originally
UK: əˈrɪdʒənəli | US: əˈrɪdʒənəli
adv. in the beginning; at first
adv. in a novel or inventive manner
adv. (archaic) by origin or derivation
The word "originally" traces back to the Latin "origo" (meaning "beginning" or "source"), which evolved into the Old French "origine." The English root "origin" retained this core meaning, and the suffix "-al" (from Latin "-alis") transformed it into an adjective. Finally, the adverbial suffix "-ly" (from Old English "-lice") was added to modify verbs or adjectives. This layered construction reflects a logical progression from the concept of a starting point ("origin") to describing how something began ("originally").
The building was originally designed as a library.
She originally planned to study medicine but switched to law.
This dish is originally from the Mediterranean region.
The idea was originally his, though others expanded on it.
The manuscript was originally written in Latin.