Strugglingly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

  1. Engaging in an effort that is marked by difficulty or hardship, often implying a battle against obstacles or challenges
  2. Exhibiting a level of exertion that reveals a fight against adversity while attempting to achieve or maintain something
  3. Characterized by a strenuous effort that suggests a resistance to external pressures or internal doubts while striving for success

Etymology: The adverb in question is formed by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective "struggling," which itself derives from the verb "struggle." The verb "struggle" entered English around the late Middle Ages, likely in the 14th or 15th century, and originally meant to wrestle or fight vigorously, often in a physical sense. Over time, its meaning expanded to include any strenuous effort or difficulty in overcoming obstacles, whether physical, mental, or situational. The verb "struggle" probably originates from the Middle Low German word "struggeln," meaning to strive or wrestle, which suggests a vivid image of grappling or fighting against resistance. This physical imagery helps explain why the adjective "struggling" conveys the sense of being engaged in a difficult or strenuous effort. Adding the adverbial suffix -ly to "struggling" creates a word that describes the manner in which an action is performed—that is, done with struggle or difficulty. This formation is straightforward and typical in English, where many adjectives become adverbs by attaching -ly. The earliest usage of this particular adverb form is less documented than the root verb, but it naturally follows English word-formation patterns that have been productive since at least the Early Modern English period. In essence, the adverb captures the nuance of performing an action with effort or hardship, reflecting the original sense of wrestling or striving embedded in the root verb. Its formation exemplifies the flexibility of English morphology, where verbs describing actions can transform into adjectives and then adverbs to express manner and intensity.