Timorous
/ˈtɪmərəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Timorous describes someone who feels afraid or nervous, especially in a way that makes them shy or unsure. It often means being careful because of fear or worry, not confident or brave.
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See It in Action
Showing fear or nervousness in behavior or attitude
- •The timorous child hid behind his mother at the party.
- •She gave a timorous smile when asked to speak in front of the class.
- •His timorous voice made it clear he was not confident.
Characterized by fear or lack of courage
- •The timorous knight avoided battle whenever possible.
- •Timorous animals often run away quickly when humans approach.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "timorous" like "shy" (A1 word), but more about feeling scared or nervous, not just quiet or reserved
- ✓Picture a small, trembling mouse hiding behind a rock, afraid to come out
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you want to speak but are too scared to start, like before a big test or meeting new people
- ✓Sounds like "TIM-or-us" → imagine a timid (shy) timer counting down slowly because it is scared to finish
- ✓Think of the story of the scared little lion who wants to roar but whispers instead
- ✓NOT like "brave" (strong and fearless), timorous is the opposite—full of fear and hesitation
- ✓NOT like "quiet" (just not loud), timorous means fear causes silence or carefulness
- ✓NOT like "nervous" (can be excitement or fear), timorous is mostly about fear and weakness
Try Other Words
- •Fearful: feeling afraid (Use when the focus is on strong fear rather than general nervousness)
- •Nervous: feeling worried or anxious (Use when the feeling includes worry or excitement, not just fear)
- •Hesitant: slow or unsure to act (Use when the focus is on being unsure or slow, not necessarily scared)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: none
- •Root: "timor" from Latin meaning "fear"
- •Suffix: "-ous" meaning "full of" or "having the quality of"
- •Etymology: From Latin "timor" meaning fear, "timorous" means full of fear
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1400s to describe fearful or shy behavior
- •Modern usage: Still used in formal or literary language to describe fearfulness or shyness in people or animals
Reflect & Connect
•Can being timorous sometimes help people avoid danger? When might it be a good or bad quality?
•How does timorous behavior affect the way others see or treat a person?
Fill in the blanks
1.The timorous kitten ___ behind the couch because it was scared of the loud noise.
2.She spoke in a timorous voice, showing she was ___ about the big meeting.
3.Unlike a brave soldier, a timorous person often feels ___ to take risks.
4.The teacher encouraged the timorous student to ___ more confidence in class.
5.Timorous animals usually ___ quickly when they sense danger nearby.
6.When someone is timorous, they often ___ to speak up in groups or crowds.
7.The timorous smile on his face showed he was ___ to share his opinion.