duly

The word "duly" is built upon the adjective "due," which traces its lineage to the Latin dēbitus, meaning "owed" or "deserved." This Latin root itself comes from the verb dēbēre ("to owe"), formed from dē- ("away") and habēre ("to have"), conveying the idea of something being held away from someone and thus owed to them. Over time, the sense of "owed" expanded to encompass what is fitting, rightful, or appropriate. The adverbial suffix "-ly," of Old English origin, was then appended to create "duly," an adverb specifically describing an action performed in a correct, proper, or timely manner, as if settling a moral or procedural debt.

Structure: due (appropriate) + ly (adverb suffix) - due: From Old French deu (past participle of devoir "to owe"), from Latin dēbitus ("owed, due"). In this word, it carries the sense of "appropriate, proper." - ly: From Old English -līc (an adverbial suffix meaning "having the qualities of"). It forms adverbs from adjectives.