solicitude
/səˈlɪsɪˌt(j)uːd/
solicitude means the state of being solicitous; uneasiness of mind occasioned by fear of evil or desire for good; anxiety. It carries an Arena rating of 1514, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, solicitude ranks #704 of 25,264 for Qualifying, #2,580 of 14,456 for The Improbable, #2,708 of 14,322 for Scariest Words, #3,931 of 14,297 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
solicitude is pronounced /səˈlɪsɪˌt(j)uːd/.
Why “solicitude” is a great word
A state of attentive care or concern, often marked by anxiety for another's welfare or for a desired outcome. From Middle English solicitude, from Old French sollicitude, from Latin sollicitūdō ("anxiety"), from sollicitus, solicitus ("anxious, solicitous"). Unlike the general warmth of "concern" or the barren chill of "indifference," solicitude carries the specific ache of a vigilant, formalized worry. It is the furrowed brow over a loved one's fevered sleep, the hand hovering near an elbow on a treacherous path, the constant, quiet rehearsal of all that could go wrong—care so close it borders on ache, where affection wears the face of fear.
Etymology
From Middle English solicitude, from Old French sollicitude, from Latin sollicitūdō (“anxiety”), from sollicitus, solicitus (“anxious, solicitous”). See solicitous.
noun
- The state of being solicitous; uneasiness of mind occasioned by fear of evil or desire for good; anxiety.“The familiarity of Sydney Smith’s manner does not consist merely in his style ; indeed, the terseness and brilliancy of his diction, though not at all artificial in appearance, could not have been attained without labor and solicitude ;—but it is the result of the blunt, fearless, severe, yet good-humored, nature of the man.”
- Special or pronounced concern or attention.“Also the triuialle of the vertues theologicalle and quadriuialle of the cardinalle vertues, to comprehende the knowlege of whom oure insufficience sufficethe not, withowte the sollicitude of writers scholde transfude to vs the memory of thynges of antiquite.”
- A cause of anxiety or concern.“M. Todgers looked a little worn by cares of gravy and other such solicitudes arising out of her establishment, but displayed her usual earnestness and warmth of manner.”
Words closest in meaning
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