orally

The word "orally" is built directly upon the adjective "oral," which entered English in the early 17th century from Late Latin oralis, itself derived from the Latin noun os (genitive oris), meaning "mouth." This Latin root can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root ōs- or h₁éh₃s, also meaning "mouth." The adverbial suffix "-ly" is of Germanic origin, coming from Old English -līce, used to form adverbs from adjectives. Therefore, "orally" literally means "in a manner pertaining to the mouth," a sense which logically branches into its two modern definitions: the anatomical sense of "via the mouth" (as in taking medicine) and the communicative sense of "by spoken words."

Structure: oral (spoken, of the mouth) + ly (adverb suffix) - oral: From Latin os, or- (mouth). Functions as the core adjective meaning "pertaining to the mouth or speech." - ly: From Old English -līc (having the form or character of). Functions as a suffix forming adverbs from adjectives.