the word 'worldly' is a native english formation, built from the old english noun 'woruld' and the adjectival suffix '-lic'. the old english 'woruld' itself has germanic origins, related to old high german 'weralt', and is a compound of elements meaning 'age of man'. its core sense has always pertained to human life and existence on earth. by adding the suffix '-lic' (modern '-ly'), the word transforms the noun into an adjective describing the qualities associated with the secular world. over time, 'worldly' developed its dual meaning: first, as a contrast to the spiritual or religious domain, and later, as a term for the sophistication gained through broad experience in human affairs.

Structure: world + ly world: from old english 'woruld', meaning 'human existence, the affairs of life'. in this compound, it functions as the base noun denoting the secular, material realm. ly: from old english '-lic', an adjective-forming suffix meaning 'having the qualities of'. it functions as a derivational suffix creating an adjective from a noun.