nervous Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite easily agitated
    • a nervous addict
    • a nervous thoroughbred
  2. adjective satellite causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
    anxious; queasy; unquiet; uneasy.
    • spent an anxious night waiting for the test results
    • cast anxious glances behind her
    • those nervous moments before takeoff
    • an unquiet mind
  3. adjective of or relating to the nervous system
    neural.
    • nervous disease
    • neural disorder
  4. adjective satellite excited in anticipation
    aflutter.
  5. adjective satellite unpredictably excitable (especially of horses)
    flighty; spooky; skittish.

WordNet

Nerv"ous adjective
Etymology
L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous: cf. F. nerveux. See Nerve.
Definitions
  1. possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous. "Nervous arms." Pope.
  2. Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in sentiment or style; forcible; spirited; as, a nervous writer.
  3. Of or pertaining to the nerves; seated in the nerves; as, nervous excitement; a nervous fever.
  4. Having the nerves weak, diseased, or easily excited; subject to, or suffering from, undue excitement of the nerves; easily agitated or annoyed.
    Poor, weak, nervous creatures. Cheyne.
  5. Sensitive; excitable; timid. This corresponds to two senses in MW10: easily excited = jumpy; timid, apprehensive
    Our aristocratic class does not firmly protest against the unfair treatment of Irish Catholics, because it is nervous about the land. M. Arnold.
    Mayne.

Webster 1913