timorous

Definitions

From Latin timor (fear) + -ous (full of) = 'full of fear.' Unlike timid, which is built on timidus, timorous is built on the noun timor itself, and it keeps a stronger flavour of fear in action — a quivering, momentary fearfulness rather than a fixed character.

Why It Means This

Timorous is the older, more literary word for fearful, and it differs from timid in a subtle way. Timid names a personality (a timid person, by nature). Timorous catches fear happening in the moment — a timorous glance, a timorous step forward — the kind of fear you can almost watch. Because it sounds bookish, you'll meet it mostly in literature and formal prose, rarely in everyday speech.

Common Collocations

• 1.timorous glance胆怯的一瞥
• 2.timorous voice怯怯的声音
• 3.timorous nature胆小的天性
• 4.timorous creature胆小的生物

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She cast a timorous glance toward the dark hallway.

• 2.

  A timorous little voice asked if it was safe to come in.

• 3.

  He took a timorous step onto the creaking bridge.

Easily Confused

timorous vs timid — They overlap, but timid describes a lasting character (a timid person), while timorous describes fear in the moment, almost trembling (a timorous glance). Timorous is rarer and more literary; in everyday English, timid is almost always the safer choice.