annually

The word "annually" is built upon the Latin root annus, meaning "year," which itself is traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root h₂et-no-, likely meaning "to go" or "a year (as a cycle of going)." This root entered English via Latin, forming the adjective "annual" (yearly) with the addition of the adjectival suffix -alis (English -al). Finally, the Old English adverbial suffix -lice (modern -ly) was appended to create the adverb "annually," meaning "in a yearly manner." The logical progression from the concrete concept of a yearly cycle to the modern abstract meaning of a recurring period is direct and clear, illustrating how Latin and Old English morphemes combine to specify temporal frequency.

Structure: annu (year) + al (adjective suffix) + ly (adverb suffix) - annu: From Latin annus (year). The core root in English, indicating a period of twelve months. - al: A suffix of Latin origin (-alis) used to form adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by." - ly: A suffix of Old English origin (-lice) used to form adverbs from adjectives, meaning "in a specified manner."