compulsively
UK[kəmˈpʌlsɪvli]US[kəmˈpʌlsɪvli]
adv
in a way that is difficult to stop or control, often because it is connected with a strong feeling or a psychological need
adv
in a way that shows you are unable to stop yourself from doing something repeatedly, often as a symptom of a mental condition
Morpheme Breakdown
com
puls
ively
com
together
puls
drive
ively
adverb suffix
Etymology
the word 'compulsively' is built upon the latin verb 'compellere', meaning "to drive together, force, compel". this verb itself is a compound of the prefix 'com-' (together) and 'pellere' (to drive). the core notion is of an internal or external force driving one's actions. the adjective 'compulsive' emerged, describing behavior driven by an irresistible urge, often against one's conscious will. the adverb 'compulsively' then naturally formed by adding the suffix '-ly', specifying the manner of such driven, uncontrollable action, perfectly capturing the modern psychological sense of repetitive, hard-to-stop behavior.
Analysis
Structure: com (together) + puls (drive) + ively (adverb suffix)
com: latin origin, a prefix meaning "together" or "with".
puls: latin origin, from the root of 'pellere' (to drive), functioning as the core root meaning "to drive, push".
ively: english origin, an adverbial suffix derived from -ive + -ly, indicating manner or quality.
Examples
he checked the door locks compulsively before leaving the house.
she found herself compulsively scrolling through social media late into the night.
the novel was so gripping that i read it compulsively, finishing it in one sitting.