Botheringly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Causing annoyance or worry in a persistent manner
2. Creating a sense of disturbance or unease through repeated actions
3. Inducing feelings of irritation or concern that are difficult to ignore

Etymology: "Botheringly" is "bothering" plus the adverbial suffix "-ly," so it describes something done in a way that bothers. The suffix comes from Old English "-lice," which turned adjectives into adverbs, and it is still the usual way English does this: "quick" becomes "quickly," and "bothering" becomes "botheringly." The root, "bother," is itself uncertain. It may come from Irish, possibly from a verb meaning to deafen or confuse, but that link is not firmly established. Its earliest sense was closer to pestering or worrying someone with noise or talk. The participle "bothering" carries that meaning forward, and "botheringly" applies it to how something happens, rather than to the thing itself.

Synonyms: annoyingly, irritatingly, troublesomely, vexingly, disturbingly

Antonyms: pleasantly, agreeably, comfortingly