κυρίως
Lemma: κυρίως
Translation: mainly; primarily; chiefly; principally; mostly (adverb)
Etymology: Derived from the adjective κύριος (kyrios) meaning 'main, principal, chief' plus the adverbial suffix -ως. The root κύριος comes from ancient Greek meaning 'lord, master, sovereign' (related to κῦρος 'power, authority'). This connects to English words like 'Kyrie' (from Kyrie eleison - 'Lord, have mercy') and appears in theological contexts. The semantic development from 'lordly/authoritative' to 'main/primary' reflects how what is most important or dominant becomes the primary focus.
Mnemonics
- Think 'curious' + 'ως' - when you're curious about something, you focus MAINLY on finding out
- Remember 'Kyrie eleison' (Lord have mercy) - the LORD is the MAIN authority
Synonyms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Frequently used in formal writing, academic texts, and news reports to indicate the primary reason or main aspect of something. Common in business and educational contexts when explaining priorities or main points.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: κύριος is an adjective/noun meaning 'main' or 'mister/lord', while κυρίως is an adverb meaning 'mainly'
This word:
Μιλάω κυρίως ελληνικά.
I speak mainly Greek.
Notes: κύριος can also mean 'Mr.' or 'gentleman' when used as a noun
Mnemonic: κυρίως ends in -ως like other adverbs (καλώς, αργά-αργώς), κύριος is the basic adjective form