The word 'subsequently' is built upon the Latin verb sequi, "to follow," which itself descends from the Proto-Indo-European root sekw-, meaning "to follow." The prefix sub- adds the nuance of "closely after" or "immediately following." Combined, the Latin adjective subsequens (present participle of subsequi) literally meant "following closely after." The English adverb was formed by appending the adverbial suffix -ly to the adjective 'subsequent.' Thus, the core logic of the word moves from the literal idea of "following under" to the modern abstract meaning of happening in a sequence that comes after something else.

Structure: sub (under, after) + sequ (follow) + ently (adverb suffix) - sub: Latin origin, meaning "under, close to, after." In this word, it carries the sense of "after." - sequ: From Latin sequi, meaning "to follow." It is a bound root. - ently: A compound suffix combining the adjective-forming suffix -ent (meaning "being in a state of") and the adverb-forming suffix -ly (meaning "in a manner of").