nervous

A diagram of the human nervous system (sense 3)[n 1]

A nervous leaf (sense 4) – that is, one having nerves or veins – of a poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

The Farnese Hercules, a c. 216 marble statue of Hercules made for the Baths of Caracalla in Rome,[n 2] was described by Joseph Spence as “strong and nervous” (sense 5)

From Middle English nervǒus (“containing nerves; made up of nerve-like fibres; of or relating to nerves; containing sinews or tendons, sinewy; affecting sinews or tendons”), from Latin nervōsus (“nervous; sinewy; energetic, vigorous”),[1] from nervus (“nerve; muscle; sinew, tendon; (figuratively) energy, power; nerve; force, strength, vigour”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *snéh₁wr̥ (“sinew, tendon”)) + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of, prone to’ forming adjectives from nouns).[2] The English word is analysable as nerve +‎ -ous.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈnɜːvəs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈnɝːvəs/

• Audio (GA)

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• Audio (AU)

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• Hyphenation: nerv‧ous

nervous (comparative more nervous, superlative most nervous)

1. Easily agitated or alarmed; edgy, on edge.

   Synonyms: excitable, high-strung, hypersensitive; see also Thesaurus:nervous

   Being in a crowd of strangers makes me nervous.

   • 1928 November, Norman B. Cole, “Present Day Opinion Regarding the Relationship between Athletics and the Heart”, in James Huff McCurdy, editor, American Physical Education Review, volume XXXIII, number 9 (number 241 overall), Springfield, Mass.: American Physical Education Association, page 575, column 2:

     I can only assure you here that there is such a thing as a nervous child; whose nervous system is unstable; who is easily upset; whose pulse is apt to "run away" at any excitement; who blushes and pales and sweats easily; who tires easily; and who may be subject to headache and eye strain.

2. Apprehensive, anxious, hesitant, worried.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:nervous

   Antonyms: calm, relaxed

   • 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Five. The End of It.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], OCLC 55746801, page 161:

     They were looking at the table (which was spread out in great array); for these young housekeepers are always nervous on such points, and like to see that everything is right.

   • 1870, Richard Whitbourne, “A Relation of the New-found-land, with a More Ample Discouery of that Countrey, […]”, in T. Whitburn, editor, Westward Hoe for Avalon in the New-found-land: As described by Captain Richard Whitbourne, of Exmouth, Devon, 1622, London: Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, […]; Field and Tuer, […], OCLC 1084234372, page 25:

     Various harbours fit to receive settlers are now enumerated by the author; and as for the cold, of which some, through report, entertained a nervous dread, he invites his readers to reflect on "the great colde that is at times in Muſcouia, Sweidon, Norway, Spruceland, Poland, Denmarke, and other Eaſterne and Northerne parts of the world, where the people liue well and grow rich;" [...]

   • 1915, Cecilia Farwell, “The Nervous Child”, in The Child Welfare Manual: A Handbook of Child Nature and Nurture for Parents and Teachers […], volume 1, New York, N.Y.: The University Society, OCLC 1034772803, page 331, column 1:

     "My baby is a perfect bundle of nerves," said one mother to another. "She is so sensitive, she starts at the slightest sound. She sleeps only a few minutes at a time, and has to be walked or rocked to get her off again. She won't go to strangers, and I am a nervous wreck taking care of her."

3. Relating to or affecting the nerves.

   the central nervous system

   • 1733, George Cheyne, “Of the General Division of Nervous Distempers”, in The English Malady: Or, A Treatise of Nervous Diseases of All Kinds, […] In Three Parts. […], London: G[eorge] Strahan […]; Bath, Somerset: J[ames] Leake, OCLC 4350595, part I (Of the Nature and Cause of Nervous Distempers), § 1, pages 14–15:

     All Nervous Diſtempers whatſoever, from Yawning and Stretching, up to a mortal Fit of an Apoplexy, ſeems to me to be but one continued Diſorder, or the ſeveral Steps or Degrees of it, ariſing from a Relaxation or Weakneſs, and the want of a ſufficient Force and Elaſticity in the Solids in general, and the Nerves in particular, in Proportion to the Reſiſtance of the Fluids, in order to carry on the Circulation, remove Obſtructions, carry off the Recrements, and make the Secretions.

   • 1774 September, “48. Medical Memoirs of the General Dispensary in London: For Part of the Years 1773 and 1774. By John Coakley Lettsom, M.D. F.R.S. and A.S.S. and Physician to the General Dispensary. 8vo. Dilly.”, in Sylvanus Urban [pseudonym; Edward Cave], editor, The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, volume XLIV, London: Printed […], for D[avid] Henry, and sold by F[rancis] Newbery, […], OCLC 192374019, page 432, column 2:

     Elizabeth Moſs, a girl of about 15 years of age, was attacked, in December, 1773, with a ſlow nervous fever, during the courſe of which ſhe had very little ſleep; [...]

   • 2011, Nancy L. Kuntz; Jonathan Strober, “Differential Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and Acquired Central Nervous System Demyelinating Disorders in Children and Adolescents”, in Dorothée Chabas and Emmanuelle L. Waubant, editors, Demyelinating Disorders of the Central Nervous System in Childhood, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 58:

     However, concern regarding potential morbidity from biopsy of a central nervous system lesion makes it rare to have a pathologic specimen available for clinical diagnosis.

4. (archaic) Having nerves; nervose.

   a nervous leaf

   • 1733, Philip Miller, “CANNACORUS”, in The Gardeners Dictionary: Containing the Methods of Cultivating and Improving the Kitchen, Fruit and Flower Garden, […], 2nd corrected edition, London: Printed for the author; and sold by C[harles] Rivington, […], OCLC 429215710, column 1:

     CANNACORUS, [...] It hath a knobbed tuberoſe Root: The Leaves are long and nervous: [...]

5. (obsolete) Showing nervous strength; sinewy, vigorous.
   • 1747, [Joseph] Spence, “Dial[ogue] VIII. Apollo; Diana; Ceres; and Mercury.”, in Polymetis: Or, An Enquiry Concerning the Agreement between the Works of the Roman Poets, and the Remains of Antient Artists. […] In Ten Books, London: Printed for R[obert] Dodsley; […], OCLC 53482211, page 83:

     [T]here is nothing in marble equal to the Venus of Medici, for ſoftneſs and tenderneſs; as there is nothing ſo ſtrong and nervous, as the Hercules Farneſe.

6. (obsolete) Of a piece of writing: forceful, powerful.
   • 1663, Edward Waterhous [i.e., Edward Watehouse], Fortescutus Illustratus, or a Commentary on that Nervous Treatise De Laudibus Legum Angliæ, Written by Sir John Fortescue Knight, […], London: Printed by Tho. Roycroft for Thomas Dicas […], OCLC 830342279, title page:

     Fortescutus illustratus, or a commentary on that nervous treatise De Laudibus Legum Angliæ [...] [book title]

• nervosity

• nervous (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• nervous in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• nervous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.