July 06, 2012
- solicitous (adjective)
- What does it mean?
- 1 : worried, concerned2 : eager, willing
- How do you use it?
- Kristin was touched to learn that everyone in her mother's office had made solicitous inquiries about her broken arm.
- Are you a word wiz?
Our writers came up with four sentences using "solicitous," but only one of them makes sense. Which one do you think uses "solicitous" correctly?If you were eager to pick the right answer, we hope you chose B. Answer A is out -- the fleeing driver shows a lack of care and concern, which is the exact opposite of what it means to be "solicitous." Sentence C doesn't work either because only a living creature can show the traits we associate with being "solicitous." We know "solicitous" is an adjective, but in answer D, it's used as a noun, so that choice can be rejected, too. That leaves sentence B, describing Ben's solicitous habits, as the correct answer.