Thrill
/θrɪl/noun
A sudden feeling of excitement or pleasure; also, to cause such a feeling.
Did you know?The word’s older senses are physical and visceral: in Middle English, to thrill could mean to pierce or perforate, and later to cause a shiver or tingling, which is why it still feels so electric today.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*treh₂- / *tr̥h₂-
“to pierce, bore through”
Old English
OE
þyrlian
“to pierce, perforate”
Middle English
ME
thrillen
“to pierce; to cause a tingling sensation”
16th Century
English
thrill
“a tingling or shivering sensation”
18th–19th Century
English
thrill
“a sudden emotional excitement or pleasurable shiver”
Modern English
English
thrill
“a feeling of intense excitement or pleasure”