ANX'IOUS, a ank'shus. 1. Greatly concerned or solicitous, respecting something future or unknown; being in painful suspense; applied to persons; as, to be anxious for the issue of a battle. 2. Full of solicitude; unquiet; applied to things; as anxious thoughts or labor. 3. Very careful; solicitous; as, anxious to please; anxious to commit no mistake. It is followed by for or about, before the object.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI