Taxingly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. A manner of maneuvering or moving slowly along a ground surface, particularly in aviation or similar activities
2. Engaging in the process of moving an aircraft on the ground, often between runways and taxiways
3. Referring to the specific phase of operation where a vehicle is transitioned from one location to another on the ground without taking flight

Etymology: "Taxingly" is simply "taxing" with "-ly" added to turn it into an adverb, so its history runs through the adjective. The adjective "taxing" comes from the verb "tax," which in English has long meant to burden or strain someone, whether with a levy or with effort. That sense of heavy demand is what carries into the adverb. The adverb "taxingly" follows the usual pattern of English adjectives ending in "-ing" that take "-ly" to describe how something is done. Its meaning is best understood through the "taxing" that applies to the verb, not through any separate root. Here the word's aviation sense, moving an aircraft on the ground, is the specialised use of the verb "taxi," which is a separate word from "tax." The two are not related in origin, so readers should not link the adverb's sense of strain to the ground-movement sense, which comes from the verb "taxi."

Synonyms: burdensomely, taxingly, oppressively, demandingly

Antonyms: easily, lightly, effortlessly