ˈtimə̇d adjective
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: Latin timidus, from timēre to be afraid, fear
1. : lacking in courage or self confidence : easily frightened or overawed
timid , silent, crouching under oppression — J.R.Green
a timid person would rather remain miserable than do anything unusual — Bertrand Russell
2.
a. : marked by or revealing a lack of boldness or determination
a timid policy
a timid look
their timid love of established ways — V.L.Parrington
b. : hesitant , tentative
this intellectual life was timid , cautious and derivative — Van Wyck Brooks
the darkness is broken by the timid flare of a lamp or a candle — Lewis Mumford
Synonyms:
timorous: timid may stress lack of courage and venturesomeness and a tendency to cling to the safe, accustomed, undemonstrative, and unobtrusive
meek, humble, timid persons, who accept things as they are, who tread in beaten paths, who are easily persuaded, who are cautious, prudent, and submissive — A.C.Benson
in comparison with their fearlessness, their bold drawing, their dashing conception, their passion and action … how timid and conventional seemed his own friends — Edgar Johnson
timorous may imply stronger influence of or domination by apprehension, fear, or terror causing one to shrink from independence or decision
must have been a powerful, perhaps an insane, impulsion which drove the timorous, inconclusive Jesse, with his intuitive horror of guns, to send a bullet into his brain — S.H.Adams
grew timorous and dejected, apprehending themselves to be haunted and possessed with vengeful spirits, on account of human blood that had been undeservedly split in this old town — William Bartram