The phrase "more lately" is typically spelled as two separate words, with "more" meaning additional or greater in quantity and "lately" meaning recently or in the recent past. In IPA phonetic transcription, "more" is represented as /mɔːr/ and "lately" as /ˈleɪtli/. The stress falls on the first syllable of "lately", making it sound like "LAY-tlee". As a whole, "more lately" is pronounced as /mɔːr ˈleɪtli/.
"More lately" refers to a relatively recent period of time or a more recent occurrence or happening. It indicates that something has happened or that a situation has changed more recently compared to previously or in contrast to the past.
The term "more" in "more lately" suggests that there has been a shift or a progression from a previous state or time. It implies that a certain event, trend, or development has gained momentum or prominence in the relatively recent past. "More lately" implies that something has become more prominent or more frequent in recent times, suggesting a certain degree of novelty or increased importance compared to earlier occurrences.
For example, if someone were to say "I've been watching more movies lately," it implies that there has been an increase in their movie-watching habits during a recent time frame. Similarly, if a news article states "More lately, there has been a surge in online shopping," it indicates that online shopping has become more prevalent or popular in the recent past compared to previous years or months.
In summary, "more lately" indicates a shift or a change that has occurred relatively recently, suggesting an increased occurrence, prominence, or significance in reference to a specific event, trend, or activity.
The term "more lately" does not have a specific etymology as it is a phrase made up of two individual words: "more" and "lately". However, we can look at the etymology of each word separately.
1. More: The word "more" comes from the Old English word "māra", which means "greater". It has roots in the Proto-Germanic language and is also related to the Old Norse word "meiri" and the Old High German word "mēro". These different forms of the word evolved into "more" in modern English.
2. Lately: The word "lately" derives from the Old English word "lætlice", meaning "recently" or "just now". It is formed from the root "læt", which signifies "late" or "slow".