uneasily
UK: ʌnˈiːzɪli | US: ʌnˈiːzɪli
adv. in a manner marked by discomfort, anxiety, or restlessness
adv. with a lack of ease or naturalness; awkwardly
The word "uneasily" stems from the Middle English "unese" (discomfort), combining the negative prefix "un-" (from Old English "un-") with "easy" (from Old French "aisié," meaning "comfortable"). The suffix "-ly" (from Old English "-lice") transforms the adjective into an adverb. Over time, "uneasy" evolved to describe mental or physical discomfort, and "uneasily" adverbially captures this state of tension or awkwardness.
She shifted uneasily in her chair during the meeting.
He laughed uneasily when asked about the missing documents.
The dog whined uneasily as thunder rumbled in the distance.
They greeted each other uneasily after the argument.
The politician answered the reporter’s questions uneasily.