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skittishness - 2 dictionary results

skit⋅tish

  [skit-ish]
Use skittishness in a Sentence
–adjective
1. apt to start or shy: a skittish horse.
2. restlessly or excessively lively: a skittish mood.
3. fickle; uncertain.
4. shy; coy.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME, perh. deriv. of the Scand source of skite 1 ; see -ish 1

Related forms:
skit⋅tish⋅ly, adverb
skit⋅tish⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To skittishness
skit·tish   (skĭt'ĭsh)   
adj.  
  1. Moving quickly and lightly; lively.
  2. Restlessly active or nervous; restive.
  3. Undependably variable; mercurial or fickle.
  4. Shy; bashful.

[Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skjōta, to shoot; see shoot.]
skit'tish·ly adv., skit'tish·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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