Etymology
From Latin anxietās, from anxius (anxious, solicitous, distressed, troubled), from angō (to distress, trouble), akin to Ancient Greek ἄγχω or ánkhō (to choke). Equivalent to anxious + -ety.
Noun
anxiety (countable and uncountable, plural anxieties)
- An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event.
- An uneasy or distressing desire (for something).
- A state of restlessness and agitation, often accompanied by a distressing sense of oppression or tightness in the stomach.
Derived terms
- anxiety disorder
- performance anxiety
- separation anxiety
- social anxiety
- social anxiety disorder
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors copied and adjusted this Wiktionary entry in accordance with NWE standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit for this article is due to both New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions at Wiktionary is accessible to researchers here:
