Word: timorous

Associations

"Timorous" means showing a lack of courage or confidence; it describes someone who is fearful or timid.

• Example 1: "The timorous student hesitated to ask a question in class." (Here, the student is afraid to speak up.)
• Example 2: "She gave a timorous smile when she introduced herself." (This indicates that her smile seemed shy or uncertain.)
• Example 3: "During the meeting, his timorous voice barely reached the back of the room." (This suggests that he spoke very softly, indicating his fear.)

A well-known synonym for "timorous" is "fearful." However, "timorous" often has a subtler sense of shyness, while "fearful" can refer to a more general sense of fear.

Substitution

Other words or phrases you could use instead of "timorous" include:

• "shy" (which emphasizes a quietness or reserve)
• "meek" (which suggests submissiveness or gentleness)
• "apprehensive" (which implies anxiety about something that may happen)

Using these words can change the meaning slightly. For example, "shy" focuses more on the person's social behavior, while "apprehensive" emphasizes a feeling of worry.

Deconstruction

The word "timorous" comes from the Latin root "timor," meaning "fear." It has no prefix, but the suffix "-ous" typically means "full of" or "having the qualities of." So, "timorous" literally means "full of fear."

Historically, this word dates back to the early 15th century, reflecting how language evolves from expressing basic human emotions such as fear.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt timorous? What made you feel that way?
• In what situations might someone be described as timorous in your culture or community?
• How might a timorous person respond differently compared to someone who is confident?