solicitude
/səˈlɪs.ɪ.tjuːd/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Care and concern for someone or something. It often sounds formal or literary, and it suggests warm attention.
- She watched over her mother with great solicitude.
- The teacher showed solicitude for every student.
Adinary Nuance
Solicitude is close to care, concern, and attention, but it sounds more formal than all three. It often suggests kind, protective concern, not just general interest. Writers use it when they want a respectful or literary tone. In everyday speech, people usually say care or concern instead.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Sự quan tâm
- Spanish
- solicitud
- Chinese
- 关切
- Japanese
- 気遣い
- Korean
- 배려
Etymology
Solicitude came into English from French in the late Middle Ages. It goes back to Latin sollicitudo, meaning “anxiety” or “care.”
Common phrases
show solicitude forwith solicitudesolicitude toward others
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is solicitude formal or informal?
- It is formal. You will see it more in writing than in casual conversation.
- Can I use solicitude instead of concern?
- Yes, but solicitude sounds more serious and literary. Concern is more common in everyday English.
- Does solicitude mean worry?
- Not exactly. It can include worry, but it mainly means caring attention or concern.