nerve
UK[nɜːv]US[nɜːrv]
n
any of the long thin fibres that carry information between the brain and parts of the body, enabling movement and feeling
n
courage and determination when facing a difficult or dangerous situation
n
(nerves) feelings of worry or anxiety
v
(nerve oneself) to give oneself the courage or strength to do something difficult
Etymology
the word 'nerve' entered english in the late 14th century from the old french 'nerf', which itself descended from the latin 'nervus', meaning sinew, tendon, or string. the latin term is traced back to the proto-indo-european root (s)neu-, meaning "tendon, sinew." this etymological journey reflects a fascinating semantic shift from the physical to the psychological. the original concrete meaning of a fibrous cord in the body evolved metaphorically to denote strength and vigor (as tendons enable force), and later, in the 18th century, to the specific anatomical sense of a bundle of fibers that transmit impulses. the abstract senses of "courage" and "anxiety" (as in 'lose one's nerve' or 'a case of nerves') are later metaphorical extensions based on the nerves being seen as the seat of strength, feeling, and emotional control.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form. it is a loanword from latin via french, where the spelling and core form have remained largely intact.
Examples
the optic nerve carries visual signals from the eye to the brain.
it took a lot of nerve for her to stand up and give the speech.
he had to nerve himself to look at the results of the test.