Overanxious

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Demonstrating an excessive degree of apprehension or fear regarding multiple scenarios
2. Marked by an intense and often unreasonable concern that exceeds the severity of the situation at hand
3. Showing a level of worry or nervousness that is much higher than the situation warrants

Etymology: "Overanxious" is a plain compound: the prefix "over-" attached to "anxious." The prefix comes from Old English "ofer," meaning "above, beyond, or too much," a sense it has carried since Old English, when it could also mean "across" or "over" in a physical way. Adding it to an adjective signals an excess of the quality, so an overanxious person is anxious beyond what the situation calls for. "Anxious" itself traces back through Middle English and Old French to Latin "anxius," from "angere," "to choke or press tightly," which is also the root of "anger" and "anguish." The Latin image is one of a tightening chest, and the modern sense of worry grew out of that physical pressure. Put together, "overanxious" describes a mind that keeps tightening beyond the point of usefulness, and the word needs no more explanation than its two parts provide.

Synonyms: overly concerned, excessively worried, fretful, nervous, agitated

Antonyms: calm, relaxed, unconcerned, composed, serene