- rely (v.)
- early 14c., "to gather, assemble," from Old French relier "fasten, attach, rally, oblige," from Latin religare "fasten, bind fast," from re-, intensive prefix, + ligare "to bind" (see ligament). Sense of "depend, trust" is from 1570s, perhaps via notion of "rally to, fall back on." Related: Relied; relying.