solicitous

[ suh-lis-i-tuhs ]
See synonyms for: solicitoussolicitouslysolicitousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. anxious or concerned (usually followed by about, for, etc., or a clause): solicitous about a person's health.

  2. anxiously desirous: solicitous of the esteem of others.

  1. eager (usually followed by an infinitive): He was always solicitous to please.

  2. careful or particular: a solicitous housekeeper.

Origin of solicitous

1
First recorded in 1555–65, solicitous is from the Latin word sollicitus anxious. See solicit, -ous

Other words for solicitous

Opposites for solicitous

Other words from solicitous

  • so·lic·i·tous·ly, adverb
  • so·lic·i·tous·ness, noun
  • non·so·lic·i·tous, adjective
  • non·so·lic·i·tous·ly, adverb
  • non·so·lic·i·tous·ness, noun
  • un·so·lic·i·tous, adjective
  • un·so·lic·i·tous·ly, adverb
  • un·so·lic·i·tous·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use solicitous in a sentence

  • Of course, she was very proud of her calf, and mooed solicitously when we approached to examine it.

  • Heinrich, solicitously brushing and folding Karl's coat, waited.

    The Devil | Joseph O'Brien
  • When he opened his eyes, it was to look into the gentle face of the Bishop of Ely bending solicitously over him.

    Robert Annys: Poor Priest | Annie Nathan Meyer
  • He considered a little ravelly strip along one of his cuffs solicitously.

    The Escape of Mr. Trimm | Irvin S. Cobb
  • Old father Ball had had a seizure of some sort in the morning, and Mrs. Ball hung over him solicitously, fearing another.

    The Open Question | Elizabeth Robins

British Dictionary definitions for solicitous

solicitous

/ (səˈlɪsɪtəs) /


adjective
  1. showing consideration, concern, attention, etc

  2. keenly anxious or willing; eager

Origin of solicitous

1
C16: from Latin sollicitus anxious; see solicit

Derived forms of solicitous

  • solicitously, adverb
  • solicitousness, noun

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