nervous
[nur-vuh s]
- highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive: to become nervous under stress.
- of or relating to the nerves: nervous tension.
- affecting the nerves: nervous diseases.
- suffering from, characterized by, or originating in disordered nerves.
- characterized by or attended with acute uneasiness or apprehension: a nervous moment for us all.
- having or containing nerves.
- sinewy or strong.
- Archaic. vigorous or spirited.
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Origin of nervous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for nervous on Thesaurus.com1. fearful, timid, timorous.
Antonyms
1. confident, bold.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for nervously
Contemporary Examples
George took his acoustic guitar and began showing me the chord changes, which I nervously wrote out on a chord chart.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and MoreGary Wright
September 29, 2014
“Mr. Richardson just dropped his pressure,” he said nervously about the brain-damaged patient in the CCU.
The Best Ass Hookie is about to be announced, and Black is nervously biting his lip.
When pressed for why he couldn't, Richard nervously said "I just started here."
Her arms are wrapped around her legs as she nervously rocks back and forth.
Historical Examples
Then as the two became accustomed to the light, I saw what I had nervously expected.
The Bacillus of BeautyHarriet Stark
Evelyn spoke quickly and nervously, and with quivering lips.
Alice, or The Mysteries, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
Molly nervously joined her, and addressed her, once or twice, in a whisper.
Meadow GrassAlice Brown
Relieved of this weight, Little Dorrit was nervously anxious to be gone.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
Her hands were then nervously clasping together, but he took one of them.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
nervous
- very excitable or sensitive; highly strung
- (often foll by of) apprehensive or worriedI'm nervous of traffic
- of, relating to, or containing nerves; neuralnervous tissue
- affecting the nerves or nervous tissuea nervous disease
- archaic active, vigorous, or forceful
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for nervously
nervous
adj.
c.1400, "affecting the sinews," from Latin nervosus "sinewy, vigorous," from nervus "sinew, nerve" (see nerve). Meaning "of or belonging to the nerves" in the modern sense is from 1660s. Meaning "suffering disorder of the nervous system" is from 1734; illogical sense "restless, agitated, lacking nerve" is 1740. Widespread popular use as a euphemism for mental forced the medical community to coin neurological to replace it in the older sense. Nervous wreck first attested 1862. Related: Nervously; nervousness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
nervous
(nûr′vəs)- Of or relating to the nerves or nervous system.
- Stemming from or affecting the nerves or nervous system, as a disease.
- Easily agitated or distressed.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.