jointly

Etymology

It is formed from English joint + -ly.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} The adjective, meaning united or shared, is from Old French joint, the past participle of joindre (“to join”),^[3][7] from Latin iungō (“to join together”),^[3][7] from a nasalized form of Proto-Indo-European *yewg- (“to join”).^[3] Etymonline notes that the adverb seems to have pushed out joinly, of the early 15th century.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

In conjunction, unitedly, not separately: 1340, in the Pricke of Conscience attributed to R. Rolle.^[2] Etymonline dates the word to about 1300,^[3] and Dictionary.com to 1300–50.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In Middle and early Modern English the adverb had several senses that have since died out: "in union, harmoniously; at the same time" (1362, in Langland's Piers Plowman, to 1693), "joined in space, adjacently" (from about 1375 to 1710) and, rarely, "continuously in space or time".^[2][4] The sense "in combination, not severally", recorded first, is the only one still current.^[2][4] Johnson (1755) defined it as "together; not separately", quoting Sidney.^[8] In law it is used of a joint obligation or of property held in joint tenancy.^[5]

Timeline

• 1340 – in conjunction, together, not separately.^[2]
• 1362 – in union, in harmony; at the same time (obsolete by 1693).^[2][4]
• c. 1375 – joined in space, adjacently (obsolete by 1710).^[2][4]
• c. 1540 – continuously in space or time (obsolete).^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Together with others; in cooperation or combination; not separately: The two museums organized the exhibition jointly.^[5][2][4]
2. So as to share a joint obligation, or to hold property in joint tenancy.^[5]
3. (obsolete, 1362–1693) At the same time; in harmony.^[2][4]
4. (obsolete, c. 1375–1710) Joined in space; adjacently.^[2][4]

Related words

• joint
• join
• conjoint
• junction

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
7. ^ a b Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
8. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.