Belikely

/bɪˈlaɪkli/ adverb

Definition

In a likely manner; probably; perhaps—an archaic or redundant formation meaning 'in a like way.'

Etymology

From be- + likely. A potentially redundant formation since 'likely' itself already contains be-, making this an over-suffixed word that may never have been standard.

Kelly Says

Language historians call words like this 'over-formations'—speakers sometimes add extra morphemes thinking they're improving the word, but they're really just adding noise, like saying 'very probably probably'!

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