Throbbingly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Marked by a continuous and rhythmic pulsation that evokes strong sensations related to both physical discomfort and emotional fervor
2. Exhibiting a dynamic and repetitive throbbing feeling that can pertain to both bodily pain and heightened emotional experiences
3. In a manner characterized by a steady, rhythmic pulsing that can be felt physically or emotionally

Etymology: "Throbbingly" is a plain formation: the adjective "throbbing" with the suffix "-ly" attached. The adjective "throbbing" is itself a present participle of "throb," and the adverb takes the meaning of doing something in a throbbing manner, so a pain or an emotion can be described as beating or pulsing in a repeated way. The suffix is the more interesting part. "-ly" descends from an old word meaning "body" or "form," which in Old English appeared as "-lic" and gradually wore down into the ending seen today. Its ancestor in Proto-Germanic was a word for "shape" or "appearance," so "throbbingly" literally means something like "in the shape of throbbing." That sense of appearance faded long ago, and the ending now simply marks an adverb.

Synonyms: pulsatingly, beatingly