In a worried or nervous way, showing concern about something that might happen.
From Latin 'anxius' (troubled, uneasy) plus the '-ly' adverb suffix; the Latin root is related to 'angere' (to choke or squeeze).
The original Latin meaning of 'anxious' was literally 'to choke'—which is exactly what happens to your body when you're anxious, as your throat tightens and breathing becomes shallow.
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