Dictionary

nervous en · ADJ

Pronunciation

/ˈnɑvəs/ (New-England, obsolete)
/ˈnɝvəs/ (Canada, General-American)
/ˈnɜːvəs/ (Australia)
/ˈnøːvəs/ (Wales)
/ˈnɛɾvəs/ (Scotland)
/ˈneːvəs/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
/ˈnɛːvəs/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
/ˈnəːvəs/ (British, Southern, Standard)
/ˈnɜːvəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˈnøːvəs/ (New-Zealand)
(Australia) audio
(General-American) audio

Etymology

From Middle English nervous (“composed of or incorporating nerves”), from Latin nervōsus (“nervous; sinewy; energetic, vigorous”), 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). The English word is analysable as nerve + -ous.

Meanings

(obsolete) Of sinews and tendons. ▸ Full of sinews.
(obsolete) Of sinews and tendons. ▸ Having strong or prominent sinews; sinewy, muscular.
- [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. 1747, [Joseph] Spence, “Dial[ogue] VIII”, in Polymetis […] , London: R[obert] Dodsley […], →OCLC, page 83:
(obsolete) Of sinews and tendons. ▸ Of a piece of writing, literary style etc.: forceful, powerful.
- Fortescutus illustratus, or a commentary on that nervous treatise De Laudibus Legum Angliæ […] [book title] 1663, Edward Waterhous, Fortescutus Illustratus […], London: Tho. Roycroft for Thomas Dicas […], →OCLC, title page:
- Nervous, clear, and striking, was almost all that he uttered […]. 1788, Frances Burney, Journals & Letters, Penguin, published 2001, page 264:
Of nerves. ▸ Supplied with nerves; innervated.
Of nerves. ▸ Affecting or involving the nerves or nervous system.
- 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; […] 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, volume XLIV, London: […] D[avid] Henry, and sold by F[rancis] Newbery […], →OCLC, page 432, column 2:
- 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. 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, Emmanuelle L. Waubant, editors, Demyelinating Disorders of the Central Nervous System in Childhood, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 58:
- 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. 1733, George Cheyne, “Of the General Division of Nervous Distempers”, in The English Malady […] […], London: G[eorge] Strahan […]; Bath, Somerset: J[ames] Leake, →OCLC, part I, pages 14–15:
(obsolete) Of nerves. ▸ Nervose.
- CANNACORUS, […] It hath a knobbed tuberoſe Root: The Leaves are long and nervous: […] 1733, Philip Miller, “CANNACORUS”, in The Gardeners Dictionary: […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […], →OCLC, column 1:
Of nerves. ▸ Easily agitated or alarmed; edgy, on edge.
- 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. 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:
- Being in a crowd of strangers makes me nervous.
Of nerves. ▸ Apprehensive, anxious, hesitant, worried.
- 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. 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Five. The End of It.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 161:
- "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." 1915, Cecilia Farwell, “The Nervous Child”, in The Child Welfare Manual […], volume 1, New York, N.Y.: The University Society, →OCLC, page 331, column 1:
- 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;" […] 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, page 25:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
nervousest	Degree=Sup	nonstandard	lexicographic
most nervous	Degree=Sup		lexicographic
nervouser	Degree=Cmp	nonstandard	lexicographic
more nervous	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic

Translations (130)

sv nervös (apprehensive, anxious) · cs nervový (relating to the nerves) · mk не́рвозен (easily agitated or alarmed) · nn nervøs (apprehensive, anxious) · cy cynhyrfus (easily agitated or alarmed) · sk nervový (relating to the nerves) · it nervoso (apprehensive, anxious) · sl živčen (relating to the nerves) · gd nearbhach (apprehensive, anxious) · mi mānakanaka (apprehensive, anxious) · hu izgul (apprehensive, anxious) · mi pūohorere (easily agitated or alarmed) · mi manaka (apprehensive, anxious) · gd nearbhach (easily agitated or alarmed) · ro nerăbdător (apprehensive, anxious) · bg нервен (apprehensive, anxious) · cy pryderus (apprehensive, anxious) · et kärsitu (apprehensive, anxious) · is flóttalegur (apprehensive, anxious) · hu ideges (easily agitated or alarmed) · uk нерво́вий (easily agitated or alarmed) · sk nervózny (apprehensive, anxious) · sl živčen (apprehensive, anxious) · cmn 緊張 /紧张 (apprehensive, anxious) · gl nervioso (relating to the nerves) · fi hermostunut (easily agitated or alarmed) · ga néarógach (relating to the nerves) · bg нервничещ (apprehensive, anxious) · tr sinirsel (relating to the nerves) · nl nerveus (apprehensive, anxious) · ru не́рвный (easily agitated or alarmed) · mi taiatea (apprehensive, anxious) · fi hermo- (relating to the nerves) · hu aggódik (apprehensive, anxious) · bg на нервите (relating to the nerves) · pt nervoso (relating to the nerves) · kmr agirnok (relating to the nerves) · vi hồi hộp (apprehensive, anxious) · eo angora (apprehensive, anxious) · hu ingerlékeny (easily agitated or alarmed) · nb nervøs (easily agitated or alarmed) · gl nervioso (easily agitated or alarmed) · sh nervozan (apprehensive, anxious) · hu tart (apprehensive, anxious) · ast nerviosu (apprehensive, anxious) · sk nervózny (easily agitated or alarmed) · nn nervøs (easily agitated or alarmed) · it nervoso (easily agitated or alarmed) · it nervoso (relating to the nerves) · eo nervoza (easily agitated or alarmed) · es nervioso (easily agitated or alarmed) · km តប់ប្រមល់ (apprehensive, anxious) · ro nervos (relating to the nerves) · nb nervøs (apprehensive, anxious) · pt nervoso (apprehensive, anxious) · gl nervioso (apprehensive, anxious) · nl gespannen (apprehensive, anxious) · cy nerfus (apprehensive, anxious) · hy նյարդային (apprehensive, anxious) · ast nerviosu (relating to the nerves) · pl nerwowy (relating to the nerves) · enm nervous (relating to the nerves) · fi hermostunut (apprehensive, anxious) · ja 神経の (relating to the nerves) · is taugatrekktur (apprehensive, anxious) · fr nerveux (apprehensive, anxious) · pl nerwowy (apprehensive, anxious) · ain ホタㇱヌ (apprehensive, anxious) · uk нерво́вий (apprehensive, anxious) · el αγχωμένος (apprehensive, anxious) · hu ideg- (relating to the nerves) · nl nerveus (easily agitated or alarmed) · cs nervózní (apprehensive, anxious) · lad inyervozo (apprehensive, anxious) · az həyəcanlı (apprehensive, anxious) · nrf nèrveux (relating to the nerves) · ca nerviós (relating to the nerves) · sv nervös (easily agitated or alarmed) · ga neirbhíseach (apprehensive, anxious) · hy նյարդային (easily agitated or alarmed) · hy ջղային (easily agitated or alarmed) · mk не́рвозен (apprehensive, anxious) · es nervioso (relating to the nerves) · mi āmaimai (easily agitated or alarmed) · de nervös (apprehensive, anxious) · cy nerfol (relating to the nerves) · pl nerwowy (easily agitated or alarmed) · sh nervozan (easily agitated or alarmed) · yue 緊張 /紧张 (apprehensive, anxious) · bg не́рвен (relating to the nerves) · mk ра́здразлив (easily agitated or alarmed) · hi तंत्रिकीय (relating to the nerves) · ro nervos (easily agitated or alarmed) · mi ngakau taiatea (apprehensive, anxious) · ja そわそわ (apprehensive, anxious) · ru не́рвный (apprehensive, anxious) · bg раздразнителен (easily agitated or alarmed) · hu feszült (easily agitated or alarmed) · tr gergin (apprehensive, anxious) · hu idegi (relating to the nerves) · ru не́рвный (relating to the nerves) · mk не́рвен (relating to the nerves) · fr nerveux (easily agitated or alarmed) · ko 흥분된 (apprehensive, anxious) · ga imníoch (apprehensive, anxious) · ar عَصَبِيّ (apprehensive, anxious) · mi āmaimai (apprehensive, anxious) · hy նյարդային (relating to the nerves) · es nervioso (apprehensive, anxious) · fr nerveux (relating to the nerves) · ca nerviós (easily agitated or alarmed) · hu nyugtalan (apprehensive, anxious) · la trepidus (apprehensive, anxious) · da nerve- (relating to the nerves) · el νευρικός (easily agitated or alarmed) · da nervøs (apprehensive, anxious) · hu ideges (apprehensive, anxious) · nrf nèrveux (easily agitated or alarmed) · da nervøs (easily agitated or alarmed) · ga faiteach (easily agitated or alarmed) · tr endişeli (apprehensive, anxious) · hy ջղագրգիռ (easily agitated or alarmed) · ro emoționat (apprehensive, anxious) · ca nerviós (apprehensive, anxious) · da nervesvag (easily agitated or alarmed) · uk нерво́вий (relating to the nerves) · bg нервен (easily agitated or alarmed) · eo nerva (relating to the nerves) · pt nervoso (easily agitated or alarmed) · nrf nèrveux (apprehensive, anxious)

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nervous en · ADJ

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Forms

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Translations (130)