In a way that involves crying or shows sadness through tears.
From 'tear' (from Old English 'tēar') meaning a drop of liquid from the eye, plus '-ful' (Old English suffix meaning 'full of'), plus '-ly' (forming adverbs). The word evolved to describe actions performed with tears or sadness.
Interestingly, the word 'tear' (to rip) sounds identical to 'tear' (from eyes) but has completely different origins—one from Old English 'teran' (to rip) and one from 'tēar' (eye drop). This homophone pair often confuses even native speakers!
Emotional expression (crying, tearfulness) has been stereotypically coded as feminine weakness since Victorian medicalization of emotion. Men were socialized to suppress visible tears; women's tearfulness pathologized as emotional instability.
Use descriptively for any person's genuine emotional response without gendered assumptions. Avoid implying tears = weakness, irrationality, or feminine default.
["emotionally","with visible emotion","expressing sadness"]
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