entirely

the word "entirely" is built upon the adjective "entire," which entered english from old french entier, itself derived from latin integer meaning "whole, untouched, complete." the latin term originates from the prefix in- (not) and the root tag- (to touch), from the proto-indo-European base teh₂g-, conveying the literal sense of "untouched" and thus "intact, whole." the adverbial suffix "-ly," of germanic origin, was added to form a word meaning "in a whole or complete manner." the semantic journey thus moves from the concrete notion of being physically untouched to the abstract concept of completeness in degree or extent.

Structure: entire + ly entire: from latin integer meaning "whole, complete, untouched," via old french entier. functions as the adjective root. ly: from old english -līc (adjective suffix) and -līce (adverb suffix), meaning "having the quality of; in a specified manner." functions as an adverb-forming suffix.