nervyadj.

Brit.

/ˈnəːvi/, U.S.

/ˈnərvi/

Forms: 1500s–1600s neruie, 1600s neruy, 1600s 1800s– nervy, 1800s nervie.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: nerve n., -y suffix¹.

Etymology: < nerve n. + -y suffix¹.

I. Senses relating to strength and courage.

1. Vigorous; sinewy; full of strength. Also in extended use. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily strength > [adjective]

mightyeOE

strongOE

bigc1300

boldc1300

fort13..

steer13..

steevec1300

valiant1303

stalwortha1340

fortin1340

strengthfula1382

stout1390

pithya1400

tora1400

mighteda1470

strengthyc1485

forcy1488

nervy1598

nervous1616

whipcordy1856

Tarzanesque1933

Tarzan-like1943

the world > life > the body > structural parts > sinew, tendon, or ligament > [adjective] > having

sinewy1398

nervous1483

sinewed1588

nervy1598

1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Neruoso, Nerboso, hauing great or manie sinewes; pithie or strongly made in bodie, neruie.

1612 J. Davies Muses Sacrifice Ep. Ded. sig. ***3^v Such neruy Limbes of Art, and Straines of Wit Times past ne'er knew the weaker Sexe to haue.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. i. 157 Death, that darke Spirit, in's neruie Arme doth lye.

1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ iii. xvi. 361 The musculous and nervy parts of the body.

1818 J. Keats Endymion i. 11 Between His nervy knees there lay a boar-spear keen.

1859 J. G. Percival Prometheus i, in Poet. Wks. II. i. 10 He shot his death-shaft from the nervy yew.

1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxiii. 83 On a nervy neck be tossing that uneasy tawny mane.

1994 Times Lit. Suppl. 14 Jan. 22/4 The nervy literariness of the originals has generally given way to common prosiness.

2. Now rare.

a. Courageous, bold.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > courage > spirit > nerve > [adjective]

nervy1882

1882 J. Walker Descr. Jaunt to Auld Reekie 221 His prentice laddie, A nervy chiel.

1893 C. King Foes in Ambush 46 He was one of the nerviest men in the whole troop.

1942 ‘S. Smith’ Mother, what is Man? 58 What man will spoil the brick walls of their yellow brim? Such a one as is nervy bold and grim.

b. U.S. That requires courage or boldness.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [adjective] > full of risk > requiring daring

nervy1897

1897 Outing 30 481/2 It takes nerve, and lots of it, to play polo. It's the nerviest game played.

1898 Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch 19 Mar. 1/4 Two colored farm hands performed a nervy job at the residence of A.W. McDonald.

1916 G. O'Keeffe Let. 4 Jan. in G. O'Keeffe & A. Pollitzer Lovingly, Georgia (1990) 117 I wasn't even sure that I had anything worth expressing—there are things we want to say—but saying them is pretty nervy.

3. U.S. colloquial. Confident; cheeky, impudent.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [adjective]

thristec897

bolda1000

keen1297

apert1330

smartc1400

malaperta1425

overbolda1425

affronted1485

saucy1511

impertinata1525

over-familiar1529

pert1535

cocket1537

cockapert1556

contumelious1561

impudent1563

brass-bold1582

pertlike1582

paughtya1586

audacious1586

copped1597

effronted1598

petulant1598

dortya1605

rufty-tufty1606

facy1607

snappish1608

bold-faceda1616

over-pert1621

impertinent1631

procacious1660

insolent1678

calleting1691

effrontuousa1734

imperent1771

free1775

sassy1799

pawky1809

iron-sideda1825

gilpie1835

cheeky1838

fresh1843

snouty1858

nebby1873

gay1889

nebsy1894

nervy1896

brass neck1925

facety1928

facey1929

brass-necked1935

chutzpadik1959

the mind > emotion > courage > confidence > cool confidence > [adjective]

unbashful1563

cheerful1600

unapologetic1834

nervy1896

1896 G. Ade Artie viii. 75 I just received your nervy letter.

1897 C. M. Flandrau Harvard Episodes 89 ‘Well, I call it pretty nervy,’ grumbled Sears.

1948 Pauls Valley (Oklahoma) Daily Democrat 2 May 4 Wouldn't it be rather nervy to ask her help?

1991 J. C. Oates in W. Abrahams O. Henry Prize Stories of 1991 41 I was nervy enough to ask Joan how she'd gotten the little scar beside her mouth.

II. Senses relating to nervousness.

4. Excitable, highly strung, easily agitated; worried, anxious; = nervous adj. 9.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > fear > nervousness or uneasiness > [adjective] > nervous

nervous1740

nerve-shaken1818

twitchety1859

nervy1873

trepidatious1904

all of a wonk1918

spooky1926

squirrelly1928

jittery1931

spooked1937

hinky1956

psyched1961

nattery1966

1873 Harper's Mag. Oct. 699 Though he was sweet-tempered as ever, I thought he was restless an' nervy like.

1891 R. T. Cooke Huckleberries 319 I expect I be sort o' nervy, what with takin' a journey and the thought o' seein' Melindy.

1906 Sat. Rev. 3 Mar. 254 They are very ‘nervy’ in Russia.

1932 A. Christie Peril at End House iii. 40 I have been worried to death. Everybody's been telling me I'm nervy.

1997 Fore! July 95/1 Hellos and smiles cost nothing and can make a nervy visitor feel at ease.

5. Jerky, sudden.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adjective] > intermittent or irregular

chopping1483

wavering1488

interpolate1547

suspensive1575

off and on1583

remitting1583

intermissive1586

fluttering1590

aguisha1602

intermittent1603

irregular1608

broken1629

intermitting1643

serratile1707

serrine1707

scattering1709

serratic1753

now-and-then1762

remittent1791

fitful1810

non-periodic1836

spasmodic1837

startful1837

interlusory1853

heterochronic1854

heterochronous1854

between-whiles1859

snatchy1861

sporadic1861

spasmodical1864

catchy1869

pauseful1877

aperiodic1879

scratchy1881

nervy1884

spurty1894

off-again on-again1923

on-again off-again1946

on-off1949

1884 G. W. Cable Dr. Sevier xxviii The nervy, unmusical waking cry of the mocking-bird.

1885 G. W. Cable in Cent. Mag. Apr. 918/2 The movements were quick, short, nervy.

1987 D. Clandfield Canad. Film v. 104 Kent's early work was marked by experimentation and stylization—nervy camera movements, flashback and fantasy sequences.

6. Charged with or evoking emotion or nervous energy (esp. in contexts concerning entertainment or the arts).

ΚΠ

1986 New Statesman 14 Mar. 31/3 Good farce generates a charged, nervy atmosphere in which one is prepared to overlook implausibilities, incidental grossness and much else.

1994 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 16 Jan. 13/1 Once again, Marilyn French has written an impassioned, nervy book that will open a new round of dialogue.

1999 Strad Jan. 71/1 A staggeringly misconceived cadenza (full of nervy dueting with the tympanist) and an orchestral introduction to the Larghetto which quite robbed the music of its serenity.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	nervy
释义	nervyadj. Brit. /ˈnəːvi/, U.S. /ˈnərvi/ Forms: 1500s–1600s neruie, 1600s neruy, 1600s 1800s– nervy, 1800s nervie. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: nerve n., -y suffix¹. Etymology: < nerve n. + -y suffix¹. I. Senses relating to strength and courage. 1. Vigorous; sinewy; full of strength. Also in extended use. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily strength > [adjective] mightyeOE strongOE bigc1300 boldc1300 fort13.. steer13.. steevec1300 valiant1303 stalwortha1340 fortin1340 strengthfula1382 stout1390 pithya1400 tora1400 mighteda1470 strengthyc1485 forcy1488 nervy1598 nervous1616 whipcordy1856 Tarzanesque1933 Tarzan-like1943 the world > life > the body > structural parts > sinew, tendon, or ligament > [adjective] > having sinewy1398 nervous1483 sinewed1588 nervy1598 1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Neruoso, Nerboso, hauing great or manie sinewes; pithie or strongly made in bodie, neruie. 1612 J. Davies Muses Sacrifice Ep. Ded. sig. **3^v Such neruy Limbes of Art, and Straines of Wit Times past ne'er knew the weaker Sexe to haue. a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus* (1623) ii. i. 157 Death, that darke Spirit, in's neruie Arme doth lye. View more context for this quotation 1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ iii. xvi. 361 The musculous and nervy parts of the body. 1818 J. Keats Endymion i. 11 Between His nervy knees there lay a boar-spear keen. 1859 J. G. Percival Prometheus i, in Poet. Wks. II. i. 10 He shot his death-shaft from the nervy yew. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxiii. 83 On a nervy neck be tossing that uneasy tawny mane. 1994 Times Lit. Suppl. 14 Jan. 22/4 The nervy literariness of the originals has generally given way to common prosiness. 2. Now rare. a. Courageous, bold. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > courage > spirit > nerve > [adjective] nervy1882 1882 J. Walker Descr. Jaunt to Auld Reekie 221 His prentice laddie, A nervy chiel. 1893 C. King Foes in Ambush 46 He was one of the nerviest men in the whole troop. 1942 ‘S. Smith’ Mother, what is Man? 58 What man will spoil the brick walls of their yellow brim? Such a one as is nervy bold and grim. b. U.S. That requires courage or boldness. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [adjective] > full of risk > requiring daring nervy1897 1897 Outing 30 481/2 It takes nerve, and lots of it, to play polo. It's the nerviest game played. 1898 Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch 19 Mar. 1/4 Two colored farm hands performed a nervy job at the residence of A.W. McDonald. 1916 G. O'Keeffe Let. 4 Jan. in G. O'Keeffe & A. Pollitzer Lovingly, Georgia (1990) 117 I wasn't even sure that I had anything worth expressing—there are things we want to say—but saying them is pretty nervy. 3. U.S. colloquial. Confident; cheeky, impudent. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [adjective] thristec897 bolda1000 keen1297 apert1330 smartc1400 malaperta1425 overbolda1425 affronted1485 saucy1511 impertinata1525 over-familiar1529 pert1535 cocket1537 cockapert1556 contumelious1561 impudent1563 brass-bold1582 pertlike1582 paughtya1586 audacious1586 copped1597 effronted1598 petulant1598 dortya1605 rufty-tufty1606 facy1607 snappish1608 bold-faceda1616 over-pert1621 impertinent1631 procacious1660 insolent1678 calleting1691 effrontuousa1734 imperent1771 free1775 sassy1799 pawky1809 iron-sideda1825 gilpie1835 cheeky1838 fresh1843 snouty1858 nebby1873 gay1889 nebsy1894 nervy1896 brass neck1925 facety1928 facey1929 brass-necked1935 chutzpadik1959 the mind > emotion > courage > confidence > cool confidence > [adjective] unbashful1563 cheerful1600 unapologetic1834 nervy1896 1896 G. Ade Artie viii. 75 I just received your nervy letter. 1897 C. M. Flandrau Harvard Episodes 89 ‘Well, I call it pretty nervy,’ grumbled Sears. 1948 Pauls Valley (Oklahoma) Daily Democrat 2 May 4 Wouldn't it be rather nervy to ask her help? 1991 J. C. Oates in W. Abrahams O. Henry Prize Stories of 1991 41 I was nervy enough to ask Joan how she'd gotten the little scar beside her mouth. II. Senses relating to nervousness. 4. Excitable, highly strung, easily agitated; worried, anxious; = nervous adj. 9. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > fear > nervousness or uneasiness > [adjective] > nervous nervous1740 nerve-shaken1818 twitchety1859 nervy1873 trepidatious1904 all of a wonk1918 spooky1926 squirrelly1928 jittery1931 spooked1937 hinky1956 psyched1961 nattery1966 1873 Harper's Mag. Oct. 699 Though he was sweet-tempered as ever, I thought he was restless an' nervy like. 1891 R. T. Cooke Huckleberries 319 I expect I be sort o' nervy, what with takin' a journey and the thought o' seein' Melindy. 1906 Sat. Rev. 3 Mar. 254 They are very ‘nervy’ in Russia. 1932 A. Christie Peril at End House iii. 40 I have been worried to death. Everybody's been telling me I'm nervy. 1997 Fore! July 95/1 Hellos and smiles cost nothing and can make a nervy visitor feel at ease. 5. Jerky, sudden. ΘΚΠ the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adjective] > intermittent or irregular chopping1483 wavering1488 interpolate1547 suspensive1575 off and on1583 remitting1583 intermissive1586 fluttering1590 aguisha1602 intermittent1603 irregular1608 broken1629 intermitting1643 serratile1707 serrine1707 scattering1709 serratic1753 now-and-then1762 remittent1791 fitful1810 non-periodic1836 spasmodic1837 startful1837 interlusory1853 heterochronic1854 heterochronous1854 between-whiles1859 snatchy1861 sporadic1861 spasmodical1864 catchy1869 pauseful1877 aperiodic1879 scratchy1881 nervy1884 spurty1894 off-again on-again1923 on-again off-again1946 on-off1949 1884 G. W. Cable Dr. Sevier xxviii The nervy, unmusical waking cry of the mocking-bird. 1885 G. W. Cable in Cent. Mag. Apr. 918/2 The movements were quick, short, nervy. 1987 D. Clandfield Canad. Film v. 104 Kent's early work was marked by experimentation and stylization—nervy camera movements, flashback and fantasy sequences. 6. Charged with or evoking emotion or nervous energy (esp. in contexts concerning entertainment or the arts). ΚΠ 1986 New Statesman 14 Mar. 31/3 Good farce generates a charged, nervy atmosphere in which one is prepared to overlook implausibilities, incidental grossness and much else. 1994 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 16 Jan. 13/1 Once again, Marilyn French has written an impassioned, nervy book that will open a new round of dialogue. 1999 Strad Jan. 71/1 A staggeringly misconceived cadenza (full of nervy dueting with the tympanist) and an orchestral introduction to the Larghetto which quite robbed the music of its serenity. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adj.1598
随便看	personhoods personifiable personifiant personification personifications personificative personificator personified personifier personifiers personifies personify personifying personise personised personises personising personization personize personized personizes personizing personkind personless personmonth