originally

Originally is an adverb used to indicate the starting point in time or origin. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or entire clauses to express how things were at the outset, before changes or developments occurred. Common usages include indicating initial plans, early states, or the source or origin of something, as in “Originally, the project planned to meet at noon” or “The site was originally a farm.”

Etymology and form: The word originally is formed from the adjective original with the suffix -ly, creating an adverb. The underlying root is tied to origin or source, dating back to Latin origin-, and it has entered English through historical layers of Middle English and Old French influences. The form and meaning emphasize the first state or source rather than current conditions.

Usage notes: Originally is versatile in both narrative and expository writing. It often introduces a contrast between what was once planned, believed, or located and what happened later. It can describe personal or geographical origin, as in “Originally from Canada, she now lives in the United States,” though in biographies and reports it is typically paired with a time frame or event. In some contexts, synonyms such as initially or at first may be used, but originally carries a nuance of origin or inception that those terms do not always convey.

Examples:

- Originally, the plan was to launch in spring.

- The building was originally a warehouse before being converted into apartments.

- Originally from Spain, he migrated to Brazil in his twenties.

See also: origin, original, initial.