'metaphorically' originates from the Greek word 'metaphorikos', where 'meta-' meant 'beyond' and 'phor' meant 'to carry'.

'metaphorikos' transformed into the Latin word 'metaphoricus', and eventually became the modern English word 'metaphorical', with 'metaphorically' as its adverbial form.

Initially, it meant 'to carry beyond the literal meaning', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.