A strong feeling of excitement or sudden pleasure, often mixed with a little fear. As a verb, it means to cause someone to feel this way.
From Old English 'þyrlian' meaning 'to pierce, perforate,' related to 'through' and 'hole.' The sense shifted from a physical piercing to a shiver or tremor running through the body. That bodily shiver became associated with intense emotion, giving us the modern meaning.
A 'thrill' was once like being pierced—something shoots through you. That’s exactly how roller coasters, jump scares, and great music feel: a jolt that runs through your whole system. The word remembers that emotions don’t just sit in your head; they travel through your body.
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