How come

Question

Basically is the adverb of the adj. basic? Why is 'ally' added? I can't come up with more alike examples so what's the reason for the 'al' annex?Thanks

Pieanne · Accepted Answer

Maybe "basicly" became "basically" for the sake of pronounciation, and by analogy with the other -ally adverbs? There may be a better reason, though, but I don't know it.  <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Maverick88 · Answer

Converesly, it's much easier to pronounce 'basicly' rather than 'basically' (at least for me)

don't you think so? Much more fluent :-D

Pieanne · Answer

Now that I think of it, both would be pronounced in the same way. I should have thought before posting. Sorry!

Maverick88 · Answer

Yes, you are right...Ayway I still don't get why there's this 'ally'... Anyone got an idea?

Pieanne · Answer

Are there any examples of adverbs ending in -icly ?

Davkett · Answer

From the freeonlinedictionary:

Words ending with icly:

Anticly	Authenticly	Catholicly	Cholericly	CICLY
Fantasticly	Frolicly	hydraulicly	Impoliticly	Metallicly
Pedanticly	Phlegmaticly	Politicly	publicly	Relicly
Romanticly	Rusticly

I don't see 'basicly' here. But if MrPedantic wants to dress up like an adverb....

Edit: I'm just noticing when you click on these blue words, some of them are showing optional endings of, 'ally'.

The most common one without '-ally' suffix: publicly

MrPedantic · Answer

...dress up like an adverb...

It's just that some of us like to make a little effort and wear something special on a Saturday night.

MrP-ly

PASTEL · Answer

Pieanne
Maybe "basicly" became "basically" for the sake of pronounciation, and by analogy with the other -ally adverbs? There may be a better reason, though, but I don't know it.

Bonne journee, Pieanne!

I thought so too, for the ease of proNUNciation. But to give it a second thought, I wouldn't agree with myself now. The ending consonant 'c' is a velar stop which sounds fine when preceeded by an alveolar 'l'.

basicly clam clap

Un moment, SVP!

(Pastel returned from the restroom. 'Basicly' still echos in the restroom.)

I pronounce it 'basicly' instead of four-syllable 'ba-si-ca-lly'.

Pieanne · Answer

Bonjour, Pastel!

Yes, clam too

And, yes, I'm aware that both "*basicly" and "basically" would be pronounced in the same way.

As Davkett pointed out, all the adverbs he mentioned accept both spellings. But not "basically", or so it seems. I can't come up with an answer for that one.

PS: I hope the restroom hasn't swallowed you up? Makes me think of Harry Potter & Moaning Myrtle...

Davkett · Answer

Not all, Pieanne,

These have apparently no optional spelling:

Anticly, catholicly, cholericly, frolicly, metallicly, publicly, relicly, rusticly, romanticly

How come

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