eager
1[ ee-ger ]
/ ˈi gər /
adjective
keen or ardent in desire or feeling; impatiently longing: I am eager for news about them. He is eager to sing.
characterized by or revealing great earnestness: an eager look.
Obsolete. keen; sharp; biting.
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Origin of eager
11250–1300; Middle English egre < Anglo-French, Old French egre, aigre < Vulgar Latin *ācrus for Latin ācer sharp
SYNONYMS FOR eager
2 fervent, zealous, fervid, intent, intense, earnest.
ANTONYMS FOR eager
2 heedless.
Related formsea·ger·ly, adverbea·ger·ness, noun
Definition for eager (2 of 3)
Definition for eager (3 of 3)
eagre
or ea·ger
[ ee-ger, ey-ger ]
/ ˈi gər, ˈeɪ gər /
noun Chiefly British.
a tidal bore or flood.
Origin of eagre
1640–50; apparently representing earlier agar, ager, obscurely akin to hyger, higre; (compare Anglo-Latin (12th century) higra the tidal bore of the Severn); compared with Old English ēgor, eogor flood, high tide, though preservation of g in modern forms is problematic
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for eager
British Dictionary definitions for eager (1 of 3)
eager
1/ (ˈiːɡə) /
adjective
(postpositive; often foll by to or for) impatiently desirous (of); anxious or avid (for)he was eager to see her departure
characterized by or feeling expectancy or great desirean eager look
archaic tart or biting; sharp
Derived Formseagerly, adverbeagerness, noun
Word Origin for eager
C13: from Old French egre, from Latin acer sharp, keen
British Dictionary definitions for eager (2 of 3)
British Dictionary definitions for eager (3 of 3)
eagre
eager
/ (ˈeɪɡə) /
noun
a tidal bore, esp of the Humber or Severn estuary
Word Origin for eagre
C17: perhaps from Old English ēagor flood; compare Old English ēa river, water
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for eager
eager
late 13c., "strenuous, ardent, fierce, angry," from Old French aigre "sour, acid; harsh, bitter, rough; eager greedy; lively, active, forceful," from Latin acrem (nominative acer) "keen, sharp, pointed, piercing; acute, ardent, zealous" (see acrid).
Meaning "full of keen desire" (early 14c.) seems to be peculiar to English. The English word kept an alternative meaning of "pungent, sharp-edged" till 19c. (e.g. Shakespeare's "The bitter clamour of two eager tongues," in "Richard II"). Related: Eagerly; eagerness.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper