WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Anx"ious
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [L. anxius, fr. angere to cause pain, choke; akin to Gr. Anger.]
Definition : 1. Full of anxiety or disquietude; greatly concerned or solicitous, esp. respecting future or unknown; being in painful suspense; -- applied to persons; as, anxious for the issue of a battle.

2. Accompanied with, or causing, anxiety; worrying; -- applied to things; as, anxious labor. The sweet of life, from which God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares. Milton.

3. Earnestly desirous; as, anxious to please. He sneers alike at those who are anxious to preserve and at those who are eager for reform. Macaulay.

Note: Anxious is followed by for, about, concerning, etc., before the object of solicitude.

Syn. -- Solicitous; careful; uneasy; unquiet; restless; concerned; disturbed; watchful.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913