Emily Dickinson Lexicon

ANX'IOUS, a. [ank'shus.]

1. Greatly concerned or solicitous, respecting something future or unknown; being in painful suspense; applied to persons; as, to be anxious for the issue of a battle.
2. Full of solicitude; unquiet; applied to things; as, anxious thoughts or labor.
3. Very careful; solicitous; as, anxious to please; anxious to commit no mistake. It is followed by for or about, before the object.