different between earnestly vs needly

English

Etymology

From Middle English ernestly, from Old English eornostl??e (“earnestly, strictly”), equivalent to earnest +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /??n?stli/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???n?stli/

Adverb

earnestly (comparative more earnestly, superlative most earnestly)

1. In an earnest manner; being very sincere; putting forth genuine effort.

Translations

Synonyms

• for real; see also Thesaurus:honestly

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English needely, neodliche, from Old English n?odl??e (“eagerly, earnestly, carefully, zealously, diligently, sedulously; greatly”); equivalent to need (“desire”) +? -ly. Cognate with Old Saxon niudl?ko (“zealously, carefully”), German niedlich (“desirable, appealing, lovely, cute”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ni?d.li/

Adverb

needly (comparative needlier or more needly, superlative needliest or most needly)

1. (archaic) Zealously; carefully; earnestly.

Etymology 2

From Middle English needely, nedelich, from Old English *n?edl??e (“necessarily”), from n?edl?c (“necessary”); equivalent to need (“necessity, need”) +? -ly. Merged with Etymology 1 above. Cognate with Middle Dutch nodelike, Middle Low German n?tliken, Middle High German n?tliche.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ni?d.li/

Adverb

needly (comparative needlier or more needly, superlative needliest or most needly)

1. (archaic) Necessarily; of necessity.
2. (archaic) Urgently.

Etymology 3

From needle +? -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ni?.d?l.i/, /?ni?d.li/

Adjective

needly (comparative needlier or more needly, superlative needliest or most needly)

1. (informal) Like a needle or needles.

Synonyms

• acicular

Anagrams

• Leyden, leyned