timidity

Sometimes tim·id·ness

[ti-mid-i-tee]

noun

1. the state or quality of lacking in self-assurance, courage, or bravery.

   The stakes are too high for the officials charged with making decisions to succumb to timidity and refuse to act.

Other Word Forms

• overtimidness noun
• overtimidity noun
• untimidness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of timidity¹

First recorded in 1510–20; from Latin timiditās, equivalent to timid(us) + -i- connecting vowel + -tās noun suffix; timid ( def. ), -i- ( def. ), -ty ² ( def. )

Related Words

• cowardice