timorous
TIM-er-us
/ˈtɪm.ər.əs/
Showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence; timid by disposition.
Describes a permanent personality trait or delicate state of habitual, meek fearfulness.
The story behind the word. From Old French 'temoreus' and medieval Latin 'timorosus', originating directly from the Latin verb 'timere' (to fear). It gave English 'timid', 'intimidate', and 'timorous', all keeping that core core of shrinking back in fear.
Word relationships
- timid: Timid is everyday vocabulary, whereas timorous is elevated, poetic, and paints a richer picture of trembling meekness.
- diffident: Diffident stresses self-doubt and modesty rather than direct fearfulness.
- audacious: Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.
- bold: Fearless, confident, and daring.
Commonly confused with
- tumultuous: Tumultuous means noisy, disorderly, or chaotic, completely different from quiet timorous fear.
Word family
- timorously (adverb): In a fearful or timid manner.
- timorousness (noun): The quality of being timorous or easily frightened.
Collocations
- timorous creature
- timorous voice
- timorous nature
Idioms & expressions
- meek as a mouse
- faint of heart
Example sentences
- "Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie!" Poetry / Classic Literature (Robert Burns, 'To a Mouse' (1785))
- "The timorous clerk shrank back into his cubicle whenever the domineering manager walked past." Character Study
Memory hook
TIMOROUS sounds like TIMID and MOUSE—a timid mouse trembling in the corner. Trembling like a meek mouse.
When not to use
Do not use for bold warriors who feel a fleeting moment of alarm; timorous describes meek or shy natures.
Fun facts
- Robert Burns's famous poem 'To a Mouse' cemented 'tim'rous' into Scottish and English literary fame!
Related words
Explore more words
timid, tremulous, diffident, pusillanimous, skittish, fainthearted
Also appears in
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