Anx"ious (ă&nsm;k"shŭs), a. [L. anxius, fr. angere to
cause pain, choke; akin to Gr. 'a`gchein to choke. See
Anger.]
1. Full of anxiety or disquietude; greatly concerned or solicitous, esp. respecting something future or unknown; being in painful suspense; -- applied to persons;
as, anxious for the issue
of a battle.
2.
Accompanied with, or
causing, anxiety; worrying; -- applied to things; as, anxious labor.
The sweet of life, from
which
God hath bid dwell far off
all anxious cares.
Milton.
3. Earnestly desirous; as, anxious to please.
He sneers alike
at those who are anxious to preserve and at those who
are eager for reform.
Macaulay.
Anxious is followed by for, about, concerning, etc., before the object of solicitude.
Syn. -- Solicitous; careful; uneasy; unquiet; restless; concerned; disturbed; watchful.
Hear it pronounced