'indelibly' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'indelibilis,' where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'delere' meant 'to destroy or erase.'

'indelibilis' transformed into the French word 'indélébile,' and eventually became the modern English word 'indelible' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'not able to be erased,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.