| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| anxious, eager (adjs.) |
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| Anxious meaning “eager” is unquestionably Standard English, even though some purists have long urged that we use anxious to mean only “nervous, apprehensive, or fearful” and let the word eager replace anxious in sentences such as She was anxious to meet her new teacher. If you say “I’m anxious to get started,” everyone will understand your eagerness, some may understand that you are nervous at having failed to get started sooner, and others may not recognize any nervousness in the statement at all. Both “eagerness” and “nervousness” are Standard senses. See also EAGER. Compare SANCTION. | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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