Nervous

Nervous
Nervous Nerv"ous (n[~e]rv"[u^]s), a. [L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous: cf. F. nerveux. See {Nerve}.] 1. Possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous. ``Nervous arms.'' --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in sentiment or style; forcible; spirited; as, a nervous writer. [1913 Webster]

3. Of or pertaining to the nerves; seated in the nerves; as, nervous excitement; a nervous fever. [1913 Webster]

4. Having the nerves weak, diseased, or easily excited; subject to, or suffering from, undue excitement of the nerves; easily agitated or annoyed. [1913 Webster]

Poor, weak, nervous creatures. --Cheyne. [1913 Webster]

5. Sensitive; excitable; timid. [1913 Webster]

6. Apprehensive; as, a child nervous about his mother's reaction to his bad report card. [PJC]

Our aristocratic class does not firmly protest against the unfair treatment of Irish Catholics, because it is nervous about the land. --M. Arnold. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Nervous — may refer to: The nervous system Nervous (song), a rockabilly/doo wop song first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 Nervous Records, a UK record label Nervous Records (US), a US record label See also Nervousness , a song by the… …   Wikipedia

  • nervous — (adj.) c.1400, affecting the sinews, from L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous, from nervus sinew, nerve (see NERVE (Cf. nerve)). Meaning of or belonging to the nerves in the modern sense is from 1660s. Meaning suffering disorder of the nervous system is …   Etymology dictionary

  • nervous — index suspicious (distrustfui), unsettled Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • nervous — 1 *vigorous, lusty, energetic, strenuous Analogous words: forceful, forcible, potent, *powerful: *spirited, mettlesome: virile, manly (see MALE) 2 *impatient, restless, restive, unquiet, uneasy, fidgety, jumpy, jittery …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • nervous — [adj] anxious, fearful afraid, agitated, annoyed, apprehensive, basket case*, bothered, concerned, distressed, disturbed, edgy, excitable, fidgety, fitful, flustered, fussy*, hesitant, high strung*, hysterical, irritable, jittery*, jumpy*, nervy* …   New thesaurus

  • nervous — ► ADJECTIVE 1) easily agitated or alarmed. 2) apprehensive or anxious. 3) relating to or affecting the nerves. DERIVATIVES nervously adverb nervousness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • nervous — [nʉr′vəs] adj. [ME neruous < L nervosus] 1. Obs. strong; sinewy 2. vigorous in expression; animated 3. of the nerves 4. made up of or containing nerves 5. characterized by or having a disordered state of the nerves 6 …   English World dictionary

  • nervous — ner|vous W3S3 [ˈnə:vəs US ˈnə:r ] adj 1.) worried or frightened about something, and unable to relax →↑anxious nervous about ▪ She was so nervous about her exams that she couldn t sleep. ▪ I wish you d stop looking at me like that. You re making… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • nervous */*/ — UK [ˈnɜː(r)vəs] / US [ˈnɜrvəs] adjective Metaphor: When you feel nervous it is like being pulled, tied or stretched tightly. When you relax, it is like becoming loose again. I was feeling a bit tense. ♦ I find running is a good way to release… …   English dictionary

  • nervous — nerv|ous [ nɜrvəs ] adjective ** 1. ) feeling excited and worried, or slightly afraid: ANXIOUS: Driving on icy mountain roads makes me nervous. get nervous: I got very nervous waiting for my turn to be called. nervous about: She was nervous about …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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