Timidities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state or quality of being easily frightened or lacking confidence
2. A tendency to be shy or fearful in unfamiliar situations
3. An inclination toward nervousness or hesitance, often in social interactions

Etymology: "Timidities" is simply the plural of "timidity," so its history is that of the singular noun. "Timidity" is built from "timid" plus the suffix "-ity," which turns an adjective into a noun of state or quality. The base "timid" came into English from French, and the noun form "timidity" arrived through Middle French "timidité," which in turn goes back to Latin "timiditātem," the accusative of "timiditās," a noun meaning fearfulness, derived from the Latin adjective "timidus," afraid. The plural form is less common than the singular, and it is used when people speak of several distinct instances or kinds of timidity, such as different shy tendencies a person shows in different settings. The Latin root "timēre," to fear, sits behind the whole family, which is why so many English words for fear and hesitation share that same core.

Synonyms: shyness, fearfulness, diffidence

Antonyms: bravery, boldness