eager

Word Origin & History

late 13c., "strenuous, ardent, fierce, angry," from Old French aigre "sour, acid; harsh, bitter, rough; eager greedy; lively, active, forceful," from Latin acrem (nominative acer) "keen, sharp, pointed, piercing; acute, ardent, zealous" (see acrid).

Meaning "full of keen desire" (early 14c.) seems to be peculiar to English. The English word kept an alternative meaning of "pungent, sharp-edged" till 19c. (e.g. Shakespeare's "The bitter clamour of two eager tongues," in "Richard II"). Related: Eagerly; eagerness.

Example Sentences for eager

He was eager now to be off, and the time would hang heavily.

The unfermented wine of another spring day came to his eager nostrils.

There are twenty men who will be eager to comply with the wishes of their minister.

How pale and eager their faces looked as they bent above him!

Miss Wilder listened attentively to Grace's eager outpouring.

Not being a knowledge of the whole truth it should be humble, tolerant, and eager to expand.

It is as eager on behalf of the man behind a counter as on that of him who is governing a country.

In such directions, Aggie was the leader, an eager, joyous one always.

You don't give me time, and you are so eager that it is difficult to be beforehand with you on the subject.

Its attributes of youth are the activity and eager life with which it is redundant.

eager

psyched

pumped

ready

red-hot

solicitous

spirited

spunky

strenuous

eager

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