'anguish' originates from Latin via Old French; specifically from Latin 'angustia' (narrowness, tightness) through Old French 'angoisse'.

'anguish' changed from Old French 'angoisse' and Middle English forms like 'angwische' and eventually became the modern English word 'anguish'; the adjective 'anguished' developed as the past-participle/adjectival form, and 'anguishedly' was formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ly'.

Initially, related words conveyed a sense of 'narrowness' or 'tightness' (physical constriction), but over time the meaning shifted to 'severe emotional pain or distress', which is the basis for modern uses including 'anguishedly'.