vigorously
vigorously
UK[ˈvɪɡərəsli]US[ˈvɪɡərəsli]
adv
In a way that involves physical strength, effort, or energy.
adv
In a strong, healthy, or forceful way.
Morpheme Breakdown
vigor
ous
ly
vigor
active strength
ous
adjective suffix
ly
adverb suffix
Etymology
The adverb 'vigorously' is built upon the Latin noun vigor, which itself stems from the verb vigere, meaning "to be lively, to thrive." This Latin root is connected to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) base weg-, meaning "to be strong, lively," a prolific root also seen in words like 'wake' and 'watch.' The suffix -ous was attached to form the adjective 'vigorous,' meaning "full of vigor or energy." Finally, the adverbial suffix -ly was added, a common Germanic construction, to create the modern form describing an action performed with forceful energy and robust health, thus completing the journey from an ancient concept of liveliness to a modern descriptor of intense activity.
Analysis
Structure: vigor (active strength) + ous (adjective suffix) + ly (adverb suffix)
vigor: From Latin vigor (active force, liveliness), from the verb vigere (to be lively, to thrive). Its functional role is the core root noun denoting strength and vitality.
ous: A suffix of Latin origin (-osus) via Old French (-ous, -eus), used to form adjectives meaning "full of" or "characterized by" the quality of the root noun.
ly: A suffix from Old English -līc (having the form or character of), used to form adverbs from adjectives.
Examples
She shook the bottle vigorously before opening it.
The company is vigorously defending itself against the lawsuit.
The plants grew vigorously after the rain.