Timid, a.
Etymology: [L. timidus, fr. timere to fear; cf. Skr. tam to become breathless, to become stupefief: cf. F. timide.]
Wanting courage to meet danger; easily frightened; timorous; not bold; fearful; shy. Poor is the triumph o'er the timid hare. Thomson.
Syn. -- Fearful; timorous; afraid; cowardly; pusillanimous; faint- hearted; shrinking; retiring. -- Tim"id*ly, adv. -- Tim"id*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for timid; he lists it under faint.
Where he writes about it:
A person may be faint when physically wearied, or when overcome with fear; he may be a faint adherent because naturally feeble or purposeless, or because half-hearted in the cause; he may be a faltering supporter because naturally irresolute or because faint-hearted and timid in view of perils that threaten, a listless worker, through want of mental energy and purpose. — from faint