Viscerally

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that engages deep, instinctual emotions rather than rational thought
2. Expressing or reacting through profound, often unconscious feelings rooted in instinct
3. Acting on or appealing to the basic, strong emotions felt deeply within the body

Etymology: "Viscerally" is a plain formation: the adjective "visceral" with the suffix "-ly" added, turning it into an adverb meaning "in a visceral way." The adjective "visceral" comes from Latin "viscera," meaning the internal organs of the body, and the suffix traces back through Old English "-līċe" and an ancient Germanic ending that was built on a root meaning "body" or "form," as in the word "like." The notable thing here is the route the suffix took. The same ending that gives "lovely," "friendly," and "quickly" was once a freestanding word "like," so "viscerally" is, at its core, "in the manner of the bowels." The meaning of the original adjective explains the adverb's modern sense: a reaction that comes from deep in the body, before thought catches up.

Synonyms: deeply, intensely

Antonyms: superficially