[ad. L. timiditās, f. timid-us TIMID: see -ITY. Cf. F. timidité (a 1429).] The quality of being timid; fearfulness.
1598. Florio, Timidita, timiditie, feare, dread [etc.].
1603. Holland, Plutarch, 285. This proceedeth from … extreame folly and timiditie of heart.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xvii. (ed. 4), 182. [The hare] figured … pusillanimity and timidity from its temper.
1762. Symmer, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. IV. 450. Lord Weymouth … spoke with grace and dignity, though with the timidity of a young man.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 244. Burnet was well aware of his danger: but timidity was not among his faults.
