Etymology Map
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Anxious

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means feeling worried or nervous

Where does the word "anxious" come from? It comes from Latin anxius, adopted directly into English (1620s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
anxius
Latin · ancient
"troubled"
from 'angere', to choke, the root of 'anguish' and 'anger'
2
Stage 2 of 2
anxious
English · 1620s
"troubled"
'anxiety' followed
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Read the full story

Anxious’s story begins in Latin: anxius meant “troubled.” From 'angere', to choke, the root of 'anguish' and 'anger'. It reached English by 1620s as anxious. 'anxiety' followed. Today, anxious means feeling worried or nervous.