solicitude

noun

1. (uncountable, usually)The state of being solicitous; uneasiness of mind occasioned by fear of evil or desire for good; anxiety.

   “The familiarity of Sydney Smith’s manner does not consist merely in his style ; indeed, the terseness and brilliancy of his diction, though not at all artificial in appearance, could not have been attained without labor and solicitude ;—but it is the result of the blunt, fearless, severe, yet good-humored, nature of the man.”

2. (uncountable, usually)Special or pronounced concern or attention.

   “Also the triuialle of the vertues theologicalle and quadriuialle of the cardinalle vertues, to comprehende the knowlege of whom oure insufficience sufficethe not, withowte the sollicitude of writers scholde transfude to vs the memory of thynges of antiquite.”

   “For there to be genuine community among any sizable group of people, solicitude must be a routine feature of daily intercourse.”

   “The increasing solicitude for human life that characterizes administrative government is limited to people who are perceived as members or citizens of the polity, for reasons that will be discussed at length in Chapter 6.”

3. (uncountable, usually)A cause of anxiety or concern.

   “M. Todgers looked a little worn by cares of gravy and other such solicitudes arising out of her establishment, but displayed her usual earnestness and warmth of manner.”