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Added 9 October 2026

nerve

/nɜːv/ noun

In Latin: nervus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about nerve at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body.
The courage to carry on.
he kept fighting on pure spunk
Impudent aggressiveness.
I couldn't believe her boldness

verb

Get ready for something difficult or unpleasant.

Origin

Recorded since circa 1374 as Middle English nerve, from Medieval Latin nervus (“nerve”), from Latin nervus (“sinew”). Doublet of neuron and sinew. Verb sense 4 (“to get on (someone’s) nerves”) is chiefly a semantic loan from German nerven.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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