Apprehensive — Ap pre*hen sive, a. [Cf. F. appr[ e]hensif. See {Apprehend}.] 1. Capable of apprehending, or quick to do so; apt; discerning. [1913 Webster] It may be pardonable to imagine that a friend, a kind and apprehensive . . . friend, is listening to our… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
apprehensive — (adj.) late 14c., capable of perceiving, fitted for mental impression, from M.L. apprehensivus, from L. apprehensus, pp. of apprehendere (see APPREHEND (Cf. apprehend)). Meaning fearful of what is to come is recorded from 1718, via notion of… … Etymology dictionary
apprehensive — *fearful, afraid Analogous words: anxious, worried, solicitous (see under CARE n): nervous, uneasy, jittery (see IMPATIENT) Antonyms: confident Contrasted words: assured, sanguine, sure (see CONFIDENT): unruffled, imperturbable, unflappable,… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
apprehensive — [adj] anxious, fearful afraid, alarmed, biting nails*, butterflies*, concerned, disquieted, doubtful, feel in bones*, foreboding, frozen*, get vibes*, have a hunch*, have cold feet*, have funny feeling*, have stage fright*, hung up*, in a cold… … New thesaurus
apprehensive — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ anticipating something with anxiety or fear. DERIVATIVES apprehensively adverb apprehensiveness noun … English terms dictionary
apprehensive — [ap΄rəhen′siv] adj. [ME < ML apprehensivus < pp. of L apprehendere, APPREHEND] 1. able or quick to apprehend or understand 2. having to do with perceiving or understanding 3. anxious or fearful about the future; uneasy apprehensively adv.… … English World dictionary
apprehensive — adj. 1) apprehensive about, for, of (apprehensive about recent developments) 2) apprehensive that + clause (we were apprehensive that they might forget) * * * [ˌæprɪ hensɪv] for of (apprehensive about recent developments) apprehensive about… … Combinatory dictionary
apprehensive — ap|pre|hen|sive [ˌæprıˈhensıv] adj worried or nervous about something that you are going to do, or about the future apprehensive about/of ▪ We d been a little apprehensive about their visit. apprehensive that ▪ I was apprehensive that something… … Dictionary of contemporary English
apprehensive — adj. VERBS ▪ be, feel, look, seem, sound ▪ become, get, grow ▪ remain … Collocations dictionary
apprehensive — ap|pre|hen|sive [ ,æprı hensıv ] adjective slightly worried or nervous: apprehensive of: It s a strategy that many teachers are apprehensive of using. apprehensive about: Leonora felt very apprehensive about his visit. ╾ ap|pre|hen|sive|ly adverb … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
