Restlessly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that shows a constant urge to move or take action without being able to relax or find peace
2. Acting with a sense of unease that compels one to seek activity rather than remaining calm or at rest
3. Engaging in behavior that reflects an inability to stay still or relaxed, often driven by an internal need for activity or motion

Etymology: "Restlessly" is an adverb built from "restless" plus the suffix "-ly," which turns an adjective into a description of how something is done. The adjective goes back to Old English "ræstlēas," formed from "ræst," meaning rest or repose, and "-lēas," meaning "without," so the original sense was simply "lacking rest." Middle English later rendered it as "restles," and the stem still carries that literal idea of being deprived of repose. The suffix has its own pedigree. The "-ly" ending descends from Old English "-līċe," a word tied to the same root as "like" in its sense of similarity or form, so "restlessly" is in effect "in a restless manner." That is why the ending attaches so readily to adjectives, producing forms like "quietly" and "happily" from the same mechanism.

Synonyms: anxiously, impatiently, uneasily, agitatedly, fidgetily

Antonyms: calmly, tranquilly, peacefully, serenely, quietly