tim ‧ o ‧ rous /ˈtɪmərəs/ BrE AmE adjective formal
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: timoureux , from Medieval Latin timorosus , from Latin timor 'fear' , from timere 'to be afraid' ]
lacking confidence and easily frightened SYN fearful OPP bold :
She was no helpless, timorous female.
—timorously adverb
—timorousness noun [uncountable]