anxious
UK: ˈæŋkʃəs | US: ˈæŋkʃəs
adj. feeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease
adj. (of a situation or period) causing or characterized by worry or stress
adj. (archaic) eagerly desirous
anxious = anx<distress> + ious<adjective suffix>
- anx (from Latin anxius, meaning "distressed" or "troubled")
- ious (adjective-forming suffix, indicating "full of" or "characterized by")
Etymology Origin:
The word "anxious" traces back to the Latin anxius, derived from angere ("to choke" or "cause pain"), reflecting the physical sensation of tightness associated with distress. Over time, it evolved in English to describe mental unease or eager desire (now archaic). The suffix "-ious" reinforces its adjectival form, emphasizing a state of being.
She felt anxious before her job interview.
The anxious wait for the test results was unbearable.
His anxious pacing revealed his inner turmoil.
The dog grew anxious during thunderstorms.
(Archaic) He was anxious to prove his worth to the king.