solicitous

adjective

so·​lic·​i·​tous sə-ˈli-sə-təs 

-ˈli-stəs

1

: manifesting or expressing solicitude

a solicitous inquiry about his health

2

: full of concern or fears : apprehensive

solicitous about the future

3

: meticulously careful

solicitous in matters of dress

4

: full of desire : eager

solicitously adverb

solicitousness noun

Did you know?

If you're solicitous about learning the connections between words, you'll surely want to know about the relationship between solicitous and another word you've probably heard before—solicit. Solicitous doesn't come from solicit, but the two words are related. They both have their roots in the Latin word sollicitus, meaning "anxious." Solicitous itself came directly from this Latin word, whereas solicit made its way to English with a few more steps. From sollicitus came the Latin verb sollicitare, meaning "to disturb, agitate, move, or entreat." Forms of this verb were borrowed into Anglo-French, and then Middle English, and have survived in Modern English as solicit.

Synonyms

• attentive
• considerate
• kind
• thoughtful

Examples of solicitous in a Sentence

I appreciated his solicitous inquiry about my health.

He had always been solicitous for the welfare of his family.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sure, Biden has a handful of close confidants but has not been exactly solicitous for advice since winning the White House. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024

Israel has, in turn, been solicitous of Russian interests in Syria. —Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024

Curtain Bluff, Antigua One of only a handful of Relais & Châteaux properties in the region, this incredible all-inclusive five-star property prides itself on solicitous service and giving guests an authentic taste of life on Antigua. —Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

The explosion of professional opportunities available to artists, and of commercial interests solicitous of their talents, has carved out a niche for a new figure at the juncture of these collaborations: the artist agent. —Natasha Degen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin sollicitus

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

solicitous

adjective

so·​lic·​i·​tous sə-ˈlis-ət-əs 

1

: full of concern or fears : apprehensive

2

: very careful

3

: anxiously willing : eager

solicitously adverb