Past tense of thrill; felt intense excitement, pleasure, or emotional stimulation. Experienced a sudden wave of excitement or joy.
From Middle English 'thirlen' meaning 'to pierce,' related to 'thrill' as in drilling a hole. The emotional meaning developed from the idea of being 'pierced' by intense feeling, creating a physical metaphor for emotional experience.
The connection between being 'thrilled' and being 'pierced' reveals how we understand intense emotions as physical sensations that penetrate us. This ancient metaphor suggests that powerful feelings were always seen as something that breaks through our normal emotional barriers.
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