eager
1
[ ee-ger ]
/ ˈi gər /
adjective
keen or ardent in desire or feeling; impatiently longing: I am eager for news about them. He is eager to sing.
characterized by or revealing great earnestness: an eager look.
Obsolete.
keen; sharp; biting.
Origin of eager
1
1250–1300; Middle English
egre < Anglo-French, Old French
egre, aigre < Vulgar Latin
*ācrus for Latin
ācer sharp
SYNONYMS FOR eager
2 fervent, zealous, fervid, intent, intense, earnest.
ANTONYMS FOR eager
2
heedless.
OTHER WORDS FROM eager
ea·ger·ly, adverb ea·ger·ness, nounWords nearby eager
Definition for eager (2 of 3)
Definition for eager (3 of 3)
eagre
or ea·ger
[ ee-ger, ey-ger ]
/ ˈi gər, ˈeɪ gər /
noun Chiefly British.
a tidal bore or flood.
Origin of eagre
1640–50; apparently representing earlier
agar, ager, obscurely akin to
hyger, higre; (compare Anglo-Latin (12th century)
higra the tidal bore of the Severn); compared with Old English
ēgor, eogor flood, high tide, though preservation of
g in modern forms is problematic
Example sentences from the Web for eager
British Dictionary definitions for eager (1 of 3)
eager
1
/ (ˈiːɡə) /
adjective
(postpositive; often foll by to or for)
impatiently desirous (of); anxious or avid (for)
he was eager to see her departure
characterized by or feeling expectancy or great desire
an eager look
archaic
tart or biting; sharp
Derived forms of eager
eagerly, adverb eagerness, nounWord Origin for eager
C13: from Old French
egre, from Latin
acer sharp, keen
British Dictionary definitions for eager (2 of 3)
British Dictionary definitions for eager (3 of 3)
eagre
eager
/ (ˈeɪɡə) /
noun
a tidal bore, esp of the Humber or Severn estuary
Word Origin for eagre
C17: perhaps from Old English
ēagor flood; compare Old English
ēa river, water