Anxious, a.
Etymology: [L. anxius, fr. angere to cause pain, choke; akin to Gr. Anger.]
1. Full of anxiety or disquietude; greatly concerned or solicitous, esp. respecting future or unknown; being in painful suspense; -- applied to persons; as, anxious for the issue of a battle.
2. Accompanied with, or causing, anxiety; worrying; -- applied to things; as, anxious labor. The sweet of life, from which God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares. Milton.
3. Earnestly desirous; as, anxious to please. He sneers alike at those who are anxious to preserve and at those who are eager for reform. Macaulay.
Note: Anxious is followed by for, about, concerning, etc., before the object of solicitude.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Solicitous; careful; uneasy; unquiet; restless; concerned; disturbed; watchful.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for anxious; he lists it under eager.
Where he writes about it:
One is eager who impatiently desires to accomplish some end; one is earnest with a desire that is less impatient, but more deep, resolute, and constant; one is anxious with a desire that foresees rather the pain of disappointment than the delight of attainment. — from eager