— anxiously , adv. — anxiousness , n.
/angk"sheuhs, ang"-/ , adj.
1. full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous: Her parents were anxious about her poor health.
2. earnestly desirous; eager (usually fol. by an infinitive or for ): anxious to please; anxious for our happiness.
3. attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness: anxious forebodings.
[ 1615-25; anxius worried, distressed, deriv. of angere to strangle, pain, distress; cf. ANGUISH, -OUS ]
Syn. 1. concerned, disturbed, apprehensive, fearful, uneasy.
Ant. 1. calm, confident. 2. reluctant, hesitant.
Usage . The earliest sense of ANXIOUS (in the 17th century) was "troubled" or "worried": We are still anxious for the safety of our dear sons in battle. Its meaning "earnestly desirous, eager" arose in the mid-18th century: We are anxious to see our new grandson. Some insist that ANXIOUS must always convey a sense of distress or worry and object to its use in the sense of "eager," but such use is fully standard.