'animally' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'animalis,' from the root 'anima' meaning 'breath, soul, life'; the adverbial suffix '-ly' originates from Old English '-līce' meaning 'in the manner of.'

'animalis' came into English via Old French and Middle English as 'animal'; the adverb 'animally' was later formed in English by adding '-ly' to 'animal', yielding the modern English word 'animally'.

Initially, it meant 'in a manner pertaining to animals or to the animal (bodily) nature,' and that sense largely remains, though the word is rare in modern usage.