Unnecessary worry, bother, or agitation about trivial matters; to worry excessively or show unnecessary concern.
First recorded in the 1740s, possibly of imitative origin or from German 'fussig' meaning 'spongy, loose.' The sense evolved from describing something loose or untidy to expressing agitation or excessive concern.
The word 'fuss' beautifully captures that uniquely human tendency to magnify minor inconveniences into major dramas. Interestingly, it's one of those words where the sound itself seems to embody the meaning - the short, sharp consonants mirror the jerky, agitated movements of someone who's fussing.
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