Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for nervous on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
Origin of nervous 1350–1400; Middle English <
Latin nervōsus sinewy, equivalent to
nerv(us )
nerve +
-ōsus -ous Related forms nerv·ous·ly , adverb nerv·ous·ness , noun non·ner·vous , adjective non·ner·vous·ly , adverb non·ner·vous·ness , noun o·ver·nerv·ous , adjective o·ver·nerv·ous·ly , adverb o·ver·nerv·ous·ness , noun sem·i·nerv·ous , adjective sem·i·nerv·ous·ly , adverb sem·i·nerv·ous·ness , noun un·nerv·ous , adjective un·nerv·ous·ly , adverb un·nerv·ous·ness , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for nervously Contemporary Examples of nervously George took his acoustic guitar and began showing me the chord changes, which I nervously wrote out on a chord chart.
“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 of nervously Then as the two became accustomed to the light, I saw what I had nervously expected.
Evelyn spoke quickly and nervously , and with quivering lips.
Molly nervously joined her, and addressed her, once or twice, in a whisper.
Relieved of this weight, Little Dorrit was nervously anxious to be gone.
Her hands were then nervously clasping together, but he took one of them.
British Dictionary definitions for nervously very excitable or sensitive; highly strung (often foll by of) apprehensive or worried I'm nervous of traffic of, relating to, or containing nerves; neural nervous tissue affecting the nerves or nervous tissue a nervous disease archaic active, vigorous, or forceful Show More
Derived Forms nervously , adverb nervousness , noun 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 nervously 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
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. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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