Most adverbs express in one word what would otherwise require two or more words; as, “He did it here,” for, He did it in this place; there, for, in that place; where, for, in what place; now, for, at this time.  Why means for what reason; how—­in what mind, mood, mode, or manner; exceedingly—­to a great degree; very—­in an eminent degree; often and seldom signify many times, few times.

The procedures by which words have been contracted, modified and combined, to form this class of words, have been various.  The most prolific family of this illegitimate race, are those in ly, a contraction of like.  Gentleman-ly, means gentleman-like, like a gentleman.  We do not yet say, ladily, but lady-like.  The north Britons still say, wiselike, manlike, instead of, wisely, manly.

Quick comes from gwick, the past part. of the Anglo-Saxon verb gwiccian, to vivify, give life. Quick-ly or live-ly, means, in a quick-like or life-like manner; in the manner of a creature that has life.  Rapid-ly—­rapid-like, like a rapid; a quick-ly or swift-ly running place in a stream.

Al-ways, contraction of in all ways.  By a slight transition, it means in or at all times.  Al-one, contraction of all-one.  On-ly—­one-like.  Al-so—­all the same (thing.) Ever—­an age.  For ever and ever—­for ages and ages.  Ever is not synonymous with always. Never—­ne ever.  It signifies no age, no period of time.  No, contraction of not.  Not, a modification of no-thing, noth-ing, naught.  “He is not greater”—­is greater in naught—­in no thing.

Adrift is the past part. adrifed, adrif’d, adrift; from the Saxon drifan, or adrifan, to drive. Ago, formerly written ygo, gon, agon, gone, agone, is the past part. of the verb to go.  It refers to time gone by.  Asunder, the Saxon past part. asundren, from the verb sondrian or asondrian, to separate. Aloft—­on the loft, on luft, on lyft; lyft being the Anglo-Saxon word for air or clouds.  Astray, the part. of straegan, to stray. Awry, part. of wry than, to writhe.

Needs—­need-is; anciently, nedes, nede is.  To-wit, the infinitive of witan, to know.  It means, to be known. Ay or yea signifies have it, enjoy it.  Yes is ay-es, have, possess, enjoy that.  Our corrupt o-yes of the crier, is the French imperative,