'athrob' originates from Middle English, specifically from the prefix 'a-' combined with the verb 'throbben', where 'a-' meant 'on, in' and 'throbben' meant 'to beat or throb'.

'athrob' changed from Middle English constructions like 'a-throbben' into Early Modern English forms such as 'athrob', and eventually became the modern English adjective 'athrob'.

Initially, it meant 'in a state of throbbing or beating', but over time it also acquired figurative senses such as 'full of excited activity' or 'vibrant'.