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nervous - 6 dictionary results
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Nervous Definition
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nerv⋅ous

  [nur-vuhs]
Use nervous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive: to become nervous under stress.
2. of or pertaining to the nerves: nervous tension.
3. affecting the nerves: nervous diseases.
4. suffering from, characterized by, or originating in disordered nerves.
5. characterized by or attended with acute uneasiness or apprehension: a nervous moment for us all.
6. having or containing nerves.
7. sinewy or strong.
8. Archaic. vigorous or spirited.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L nervōsus sinewy, equiv. to nerv(us) nerve + -ōsus -ous

Related forms:
nerv⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
nerv⋅ous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. fearful, timid, timorous.

Antonyms:
1. confident, bold.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To nervous
nerv·ous   (nûr'vəs)   
adj.  
    1. Of or relating to the nerves or nervous system: nervous tissue.
    2. Stemming from or affecting the nerves or nervous system: a nervous disorder.
  2. Easily agitated or distressed; high-strung or jumpy.
  3. Marked by or having a feeling of unease or apprehension: nervous moments before takeoff.
  4. Vigorous in style or feeling; spirited: "the nervous thrust of a modern creation" (Henry A. Kissinger).
  5. Archaic Strong; sinewy.

[Middle English, sinewy, containing nerves, from Latin nervōsus, sinewy, from nervus, sinew; see nerve.]
nerv'ous·ly adv., nerv'ous·ness n.
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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Nervous

Nerv"ous\, a. [L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous: cf. F. nerveux. See Nerve.]

1. possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous. "Nervous arms." --Pope.

2. Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in sentiment or style; forcible; spirited; as, a nervous writer.

3. Of or pertaining to the nerves; seated in the nerves; as, nervous excitement; a nervous fever.

4. Having the nerves weak, diseased, or easily excited; subject to, or suffering from, undue excitement of the nerves; easily agitated or annoyed.

Poor, weak, nervous creatures. --Cheyne.

5. Sensitive; excitable; timid.

Our aristocratic class does not firmly protest against the unfair treatment of Irish Catholics, because it is nervous about the land. --M. Arnold.

Nervous fever (Med.), a low form of fever characterized by great disturbance of the nervous system, as evinced by delirium, or stupor, disordered sensibility, etc.

Nervous system (Anat.), the specialized co["o]rdinating apparatus which endows animals with sensation and volition. In vertebrates it is often divided into three systems: the central, brain and spinal cord; the peripheral, cranial and spinal nerves; and the sympathetic. See Brain, Nerve, Spinal cord, under Spinal, and Sympathetic system, under Sympathetic, and Illust. in Appendix.

Nervous temperament, a condition of body characterized by a general predominance of mental manifestations. --Mayne.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : nervous
Spanish: nervioso,
German: Nerven-…,
Japanese: 神経の
More Translations »

nervous 
c.1400, "affecting the sinews," from L. nervosus "sinewy, vigorous," from nervus "sinew, nerve" (see nerve). Sense of "of or belonging to the nerves" in the modern sense is from 1665. 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 1899.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: ner·vous
Pronunciation: 'n&r-v&s
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or composed of neurons nervouslayer of the eye>
2 a : of or relating to the nerves; also : originating in or affected by the nerves <nervous energy> b : easilyexcited or irritated —ner·vous·ly adverb —ner·vous·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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nervous nerv·ous (nûr'vəs)
adj.

  1. Of or relating to the nerves or nervous system.
  2. Stemming from or affecting the nerves or nervous system, as a disease.
  3. Easily agitated or distressed.
nerv'ous·ness n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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