frequently
/ˈfriːkwəntli/
adverb
Origin
Latin
frequens — crowded, populous, repeated
Overview
Meaning Now
- at frequent intervals; often.
- occurring or done on many occasions.
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
frequently
Earliest period
late 15th century
Journey
The root 'frequens' in Latin originally referred to the physical density of people (a 'crowded' place). Over time, the sense shifted from spatial density to temporal frequency, meaning events that happen in close succession or with high recurrence.
Evolution
- Latin
frequens
“crowded, abundant”
- Latin
frequentia
“an assembling, multitude”
- Middle French
fréquent
“common, happening often”
- Late Middle English
frequently
“in a crowded manner; often”
Added suffix -ly to frequent
Connections
Word parts
frequent
root
happening often
-ly
suffix
adverb-forming suffix
Related across languages
French
fréquemment
frequently
Italian
frequentemente
frequently
Related words
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Related to frequently
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.