Insecure
/ˌɪn.sɪˈkjʊər/noun
Not confident or assured; anxious about oneself.
Did you know?The prefix 'in-' traditionally denotes negation, while 'securus' means safe, hinting that to be insecure is to be deprived of safety — a state of constant anxiety and vulnerability.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
securus
“Free from care, safe.”
Latin
Latin
insecure
“Not safe or free from care.”
Old French
Old French
insecure
“Not secure or safe.”
Middle English
Middle English
insecure
“Lacking assurance or confidence.”
Modern English
English
insecure
“Feeling uncertain or anxious about oneself.”