the word "thrill" originates from the middle english thrillen, meaning "to pierce or penetrate," which itself evolved from the old english þyrlian, a derivative of þyrel meaning "hole." this old english term is related to þurh, meaning "through," tracing back to the proto-germanic þurh and ultimately to the proto-indo-european root terə-, meaning "to cross over, pass through, overcome." the semantic journey from a physical piercing to an intense emotional sensation is a classic example of metaphorical extension. the piercing or penetrating feeling of a sharp emotion, such as excitement or fear, became abstracted over time. by the late 19th century, "thrilled" had fully acquired its modern sense of being vibrantly excited or pleasurably stirred, losing its earlier connotations of literal piercing or terror.

the word "thrilled" is a simplex form derived from the verb "thrill." it is not productively segmented into smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern english.