Etymologically
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anxius

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:35. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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