solicitous

From Latin sōlicitus, sollicitus (“thoroughly disturbed, anxious”), from sollus (“whole, entire”) + cieō (“move, disturb”). By surface analysis, solicit +‎ -ous.

• IPA^(key): /səˈlɪsɪtəs/

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• Hyphenation: so‧lic‧i‧tous

solicitous (comparative more solicitous, superlative most solicitous)

1. Disposed to solicit; eager to obtain something desirable, or to avoid anything evil.
   • 1646–48, Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, The History of the Rebellion, volume III, Oxford: Ro. Mander, published 1707, book I, page 82:

     To that end, the then Biſhop of London, D^r Laud, attended on his Majeſty throughout that whole journey […] to accompliſh which he was no leſs ſollicitous than the King himſelf, nor the King the leſs ſollicitous for his Advice.

   • 1929, Kirby Page, Jesus Or Christianity: A Study In Contrasts, Oxford: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., page 32:

     Where pain is most severe and sorrow most bitter, there love is most solicitous and untiring.

2. (Usually followed by about, for, etc., or a clause) Showing care, concern, or attention, in any of several ways; thus:
   1. In a conscientious way, often with kindness.

      solicitous about a person's health

      solicitous inquiries, asking after her husband and children

      • 1666 November 10, John Dryden, “Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders”, in The Poetical Works of John Dryden, volume I, London: F. C. and J. Rivington et al., published 1811, page 78:

        You have not only been careful of my fortune, which was the effect of your nobleneſs, but you have been ſolicitous of my reputation, which is that of your kindneſs.

      • 1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “The Soldier in White”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 171:

        The more solicitous of the two was Nurse Cramer, a shapely, pretty, sexless girl with a wholesome unattractive face.

   2. In an eager way.
   3. In an anxious or distressed way.
      • 1650, Jeremy Taylor, “Of Christian Society”, in The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living, 19th edition, London: J. Hepinstall, published 1703, section VI, page 114:

        Enjoy the preſent whatſoever it be, and be not ſollicitous for the future : for if you take your foot from the preſent ſtanding, and thruſt it forward toward to morrow’s even, you are in a reſtleſs condition, it is like refuſing to quench your preſent thirſt by fearing you ſhall want to drink the next day.

• solicitously (adv)
• solicitousness (n)

• “solicitous”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.