belatedly

the word 'belatedly' is formed from the adjective 'belated' with the addition of the common english adverbial suffix '-ly'. the core adjective 'belated' originates from the now-obsolete verb 'belate', meaning 'to make late, to delay'. this verb was itself a combination of the intensive prefix 'be-' and the simple adjective 'late'. the prefix 'be-' in old english often added a sense of 'about, around, or thoroughly' to verbs, here intensifying the state of lateness. thus, the literal sense of being 'thoroughly late' evolved into the modern meaning of something happening after the expected or proper time.

Structure: belated (delayed) + ly (adverb suffix) belated (from english 'belated', meaning delayed or made late, itself from the verb 'belate', now obsolete); ly (from old english '-līce', an adverbial suffix forming adverbs from adjectives).