Definition: Anxiety
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
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