Nervous Meaning
/ˈnɜːvəs/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf sinews and tendons.
adjOf sinews and tendons., Full of sinews.
Sentence Examples
With so many people around he naturally became a bit nervous.
She is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
I felt really nervous before the interview.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He felt ____ before his job interview and could not sit still.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She felt very ____ before her first big presentation at the new company.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[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:
"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:
"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:
"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:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He felt ____ before his job interview and could not sit still.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She felt very ____ before her first big presentation at the new company.