timidousadj.
/ˈtɪmᵻdəs/, U.S. /ˈtɪmᵻdəs/ Now rare.
= timid adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective]
arghc885
unboldc897
bletheOE
feyOE
frightfula1325
fearedc1330
fearfulc1374
ferdfula1382
palea1393
ferdya1400
ghastful1422
tremblingc1430
timorousc1450
cremeuse1477
craintive1490
cocklea1500
sheepish?1518
awfula1522
meticulousc1540
timidc1550
sheepa1556
tremebundc1560
timorsomec1600
tremulous1611
pigeon-hearteda1625
affrightful1631
formidolous1656
pavid1656
timidous1658
unsupported1694
tender-nosed1700
scary1773
pippin-hearted1809
kitten-hearted1831
funky1835
misventurous1849
milksoppish1852
tender-footed1854
fearsome1863
scare1885
milksoppy1886
milksopping1888
cotton wool1909
1658 H. W. tr. E. de Refuge Accomplish'd Courtier xxxiii. 114 A Prince, whose Genius is vain, distrustfull, envious, covetous, cruell, or timidous [Fr. timide].
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 193 Fortune th' audacious doth juvare, But lets the timidous miscarry.
1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 198 His timidous Manner of creating and judging abundance of Points, some on one side, and some on another.
1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 177 His Lordship knew him to be..a timidous man.
1849 J. S. Young & J. Apitz 10 Mar. in Essex Genealogist (2003) 23 30 Mr. Marland curtly refused all offers,..and ever held the circumstances as a good source of humor with his timidous friend.
1905 B. G. Carleton Treat. Urol. & Venereal Dis. i. 27 The nervous variety occurs in those of an apprehensive timidous temperament.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1658