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antsy - 2 dictionary results

ants⋅y

  [ant-see]
Use antsy in a Sentence
–adjective, ants⋅i⋅er, ants⋅i⋅est. Informal.
1. unable to sit or stand still; fidgety: The children were bored and antsy.
2. apprehensive, uneasy, or nervous: I'm a little antsy since hearing those storm warnings.
Origin:
1950–55; ant + -s 3 + -y 1 ; cf. -sy

Related forms:
ants⋅i⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To antsy
ant·sy   (ānt'sē)   
adj.   ant·si·er, ant·si·est Slang
  1. Restless or impatient; fidgety: The long wait made the children antsy.
  2. Nervous; apprehensive: "Camps got shot up all the time, but if there wasn't a shoot-up, they'd get antsy" (Harper's).

[Perhaps from the incessant motions of ants.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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