nervousness
Meaning
the feeling of being worried or slightly frightened.
the state of being easily agitated or alarmed.
Structure
Usage
she tried to hide her nervousness before the interview.
a touch of nervousness is natural before giving a public speech.
his constant fidgeting was a clear sign of his nervousness.
Etymology
the word 'nervousness' is built upon the latin root nervus, which originally referred to a sinew, tendon, or string, and by extension, a nerve. the adjective-forming suffix -ous (from latin -osus) was attached to create 'nervous', literally meaning 'full of nerves' or 'pertaining to the nerves'. this term historically described physical conditions related to the nerves before its meaning expanded to denote a state of mental agitation or anxiety. finally, the old english abstract noun-forming suffix -ness was added, solidifying the modern meaning as the state or quality of being anxious, worried, or easily agitated.
Analysis
nerv (from latin nervus, meaning sinew, nerve, string; functional role: root conveying the core concept of nerve or sinew). ous (from latin -osus, meaning full of; functional role: suffix forming adjectives meaning 'characterized by' or 'full of'). ness (from old english -nes, -nis; functional role: suffix forming abstract nouns indicating a state or quality).