timid: [16] The Latin verb timēre meant ‘fear’ (its origins are not known). From it were derived the adjective timidus (source of English timid) and the noun timor ‘fear’ (whose medieval Latin descendant timorōsus ‘fearful’ gave English timorous [15]). => timorous
1540s, from Middle French timide "easily frightened, shy" (16c.) and directly from Latin timidus "fearful, afraid, cowardly," from timere "to fear," of uncertain origin. Related: Timidly; timidness.