timidity
(tɪˈmɪdɪtɪ)
[ad. L. timiditās, f. timid-us timid: see -ity. Cf. F. timidité (a 1429).]
The quality of being timid; fearfulness.
| 1598 Florio, Timidita, timiditie, feare, dread [etc.]. 1603 Holland Plutarch 285 This proceedeth from..extreame folly and timiditie of heart. 1658 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iii. xvii. (ed. 4) 182 [The hare] figured..pusillanimity and timidity from its temper. 1762 Symmer in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. IV. 450 Lord Weymouth..spoke with grace and dignity, though with the timidity of a young man. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 244 Burnet was well aware of his danger: but timidity was not among his faults. |