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   Nerve

   /nərv/

   

   noun

   • 1. (in the body) a whitish fiber or bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the muscles and organs: "the optic nerve" Similar nerve fibertechnical:axon
   • 2. a person's steadiness, courage, and sense of purpose when facing a demanding situation: "an amazing journey that tested her nerves to the full" Similar self-confidenceconfidenceassuranceself-assurancecoolnesscoolheadednessself-possessioncouragebraverypluckpluckinessboldnesscourageousnessbravenessintrepidityintrepidnessfearlessnessvalordaringdauntlessnessdoughtinessgamenessdeterminationstrength of characterfirmness of purposewill powerspiritbackbonefortitudemettleheartendurancetenacityresolutionresolutenessstout-heartednesssteadfastnessstaunchnesshardihoodinformal:gritgutsspunkgumptiongutsinessbottleballsinessmoxiecojonessandvulgar slang:ballsOpposite timidityfaint-heartedness
   • ▪ impudence or audacity: informal "he had the nerve to insult my cooking" Similar audacitycheekbarefaced cheekeffronterygalltemeritypresumptionpresumptuousnessboldnessbrazennessimpudenceimpertinenceinsolencepertnessforwardnessfrontarrogancecockinessinformal:faceneckbrass neckbrasssaucechutzpahinformal, dated:hidecrustrare:procacityassumptionOpposite shynessbashfulnesspoliteness
   • 3. nervousness or anxiety: "his first-night nerves soon disappeared" Similar anxietytensionnervousnessnervous tensionstraintensenessstressworrycold feetapprehensivenessapprehensionjumpinessfrightinformal:butterflies (in one's stomach)collywobblesthe jittersthe williesthe heebie-jeebiesthe shakesthe jumpsjim-jamsthe yipsthe (screaming) abdabs/habdabsrhyming slang:Joe BlakesOpposite calmnessnonchalance
   • 4. a prominent unbranched rib in a leaf, especially in the midrib of the leaf of a moss.

   verb

   • 1. brace oneself mentally to face a demanding situation: "she nerved herself to enter the room"

   Word Origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘tendon, sinew’): from Latin nervus; related to Greek neuron ‘nerve’ (see neuron).

   Derivatives

   • 1. nerved adjective

   Scrabble Points: 8

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