Etymologically
Log in

anxius

Etymology and origin of the Latin word anxius

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (angō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin anxius
English anxious

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈaːŋk.si.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaŋk.si.us][1]

Forms

ānxius (feminine ānxia, neuter ānxium, comparative magis ānxius, superlative maximē ānxius); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from angō “to squeeze, distress”.[2][1][3] De Vaan finds its formation unclear, and asks whether it was made from the old s-stem seen in angor.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of anxiety.[2] De Vaan and Köbler also give Cicero as the first author.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant worried, uneasy, as in Cicero, and of circumstances marked by anxiety, and causing anguish.[2] In Sallust it meant careful, painstaking.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant afflicted, dejected, uneasy, anxious.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for anxious, oppressed, hazardous.[7] It gave English anxious in the 1620s.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of anxiety.[2][5]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of care.[2][5]
  • 1620s – English anxious is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Worried, uneasy, anxious.[2]
  2. Full of anxiety; distressing.[2]
  3. Careful, painstaking.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Anxius.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/anxius. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·