Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Arrogantly impudent; brazen.
  • adjective Showing or requiring courage and fortitude; bold.
  • adjective Chiefly British Jumpy; nervous.
  • adjective Archaic Full of muscular force; sinewy.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Vigorous; sinewy; strong, as if well-nerved or full of nervous force.
  • Courageous; having or exhibiting fortitude or nerve.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Strong; sinewy.
  • adjective Offensively bold or presumptuous; insolent; cheeky; pushy.
  • adjective Exhibiting courage or daring; bold; plucky.
  • adjective Nervous{6}; apprehensive; edgy{1}.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective US Having nerve; bold; brazen.
  • adjective UK Feeling nervous, anxious or agitated.
  • adjective archaic Strong; sinewy.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective being in a tense state
  • adjective showing or requiring courage and contempt of danger
  • adjective offensively bold

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Say, boss, "-- and Sundown leaned toward Corliss confidentially and lowered his voice, --" I ain't what you'd call a nervy man, but say, I got somethin 'jest as good.

    Sundown Slim Henry Herbert Knibbs 1909

  • With some legitimacy you could call the nervy Texans in ...

    post-gazette.com - News 2009

  • With some legitimacy you could call the nervy Texans in ...

    post-gazette.com - News 2009

  • What Ronnie is sure about is that he's not going to spend this glorious September Saturday afternoon on a trip to "nervy" Aunt Edna's house.

    Ronnie's War by Bernard Ashley 2010

  • Well I guess you're glad we "nervy" Clinton supporters are finally backing down.

    Clinton supporters scrap letter pressuring Obama 2008

  • Well I guess you're glad we "nervy" Clinton supporters are finally backing down.

    McCain raises $21.5 million in May 2008

  • If you don't know about Alsatian wines, I can assure you that they are perfect spring-into-summer picks with vibrant acidity and a kind of nervy, racy quality that keeps the wine lively and bright down to the last drop.

    Archive 2009-04-01 2009

  • If you don't know about Alsatian wines, I can assure you that they are perfect spring-into-summer picks with vibrant acidity and a kind of nervy, racy quality that keeps the wine lively and bright down to the last drop.

    For Brighter Whites Turn to Alsace 2009

  • It takes a certain kind of nervy woman to pull that look off, however.

    2006 October : Scrubbles.net 2006

  • It takes a certain kind of nervy woman to pull that look off, however.

    The Hair Care Bunch : Scrubbles.net 2006

Comments

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  • Nervous v. brave, daring.

    May 24, 2008