NERVOUSLY

nervously

(adverb) in an anxiously nervous manner; “we watched the stock market nervously”

nervously

(adverb) with nervous excitement; “our bodies jumped nervously away at the slightest touch”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adverb

nervously (comparative more nervously, superlative most nervously)

In a nervous manner; feeling or displaying nervousness.

Source: Wiktionary

Nerv"ous*ly, adv.

Definition: In a nervous manner.

NERVOUS

Nerv"ous, a. Etym: [L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous: cf. F. nerveux. See Nerve.]

1. possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous. "Nervous arms." Pope.

2. Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in sentiment or style; forcible; spirited; as, a nervous writer.

3. Of or pertaining to the nerves; seated in the nerves; as, nervous excitement; a nervous fever.

4. Having the nerves weak, diseased, or easily excited; subject to, or suffering from, undue excitement of the nerves; easily agitated or annoyed. Poor, weak, nervous creatures. Cheyne.

5. Sensitive; excitable; timid. Our aristocratic class does not firmly protest against the unfair treatment of Irish Catholics, because it is nervous about the land. M. Arnold. Nervous fever (Med.), a low form of fever characterized by great disturbance of the nervous system, as evinced by delirium, or stupor, disordered sensibility, etc.

– Nervous system (Anat.), the specialized coördinating apparatus which endows animals with sensation and volition. In vertebrates it is often divided into three systems: the central, brain and spinal cord; the peripheral, cranial and spinal nerves; and the sympathetic. See Brain, Nerve, Spinal cord, under Spinal, and Sympathetic system, under Sympathetic, and Illust. in Appendix.

– Nervous temperament, a condition of body characterized by a general predominance of mental manifestations. Mayne.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition