Gapingly
/ˈɡeɪ.pɪŋ.li/noun
In a gaping manner; with the mouth, eyes, or opening held wide open.
Did you know?Gapingly is built from Old English *gæping* / *gæpian* family roots tied to opening the mouth or staring, and it carries the eerie image of something left unnaturally wide open.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gāpōną
“to gape, open the mouth”
Old English
OE
gæpian
“to gape, open wide”
Middle English
ME
gaping
“open-mouthed, staring, wide open”
Early Modern English
English
gapingly
“in a gaping manner”
Modern English
English
gapingly
“in a gaping or open-mouthed way”