Is Timidity Even a Word?

Send us Fan Mail Word of the Episode: TimidityDefinition (Oxford): Lack of courage or confidence.Usage: More common historically (esp. 1800s), in decline until a slight uptick since 2019—possibly linked to its appearance in modern Bible translations (e.g., NLT). Example usage: “She believes everyone can overcome their timidity.”Etymology: From Latin timidus (“fearful”) ← timere (“to fear”). Related to timid, intimidate, etc.Comparison: Timidness exists, but AI claims timidity is more established—a claim the hosts dispute, saying they had never encountered it until now.Biblical Connection: Appears in 2 Timothy 1:7 in NLT (“spirit of timidity”), contrasted with KJV “spirit of fear.”Greek root deilia: cowardice, shrinking back.Discussion of translation nuances—“spirit of fear” preferred by hosts for theological clarity.Name TangentTimothy: From Greek Timotheos (“honoring God”), unrelated in meaning to timidity despite phonetic similarity.Interesting contrast: Timothy = honor; timidity = fear.Language and Teaching AnecdotesStory about teaching reading: oldest child insisted the letter “C” was unnecessary (preferred K for hard sounds, S for soft sounds).Hosts reflect on English language idiosyncrasies and societal norms—sometimes you must teach or conform to standard usage even if logically flawed to maintain group consistency (e.g., scripture memorization in one translation).Discussion of debate skills:One host enjoyed logical fallacy education but disliked formal debate constraints.Questioning realism of debate rules in everyday argumentation (should everything be allowed?).Fun DebatesWaffles vs. pancakes:She: waffles for crunch and syrup pockets.He: soft, cake-like waffles preferred; long-term choice would be pancakes.Crunchy vs. soft dessert preferences and cookie texture differences.Crunch in food: she likes chips in sandwiches; he prefers only certain crunchy foods.Cultural ReflectionOn language reform: can’t rewrite every word/book; sometimes must “share empathy” about constraints.Suggestion: learn languages without English’s “C” problems (e.g., Russian, Asian languages).Closing NotesCore lesson: functioning in society often means aligning with group standards (like using C in spelling or reciting scripture in a shared translation), even if logically imperfect.Encouragement: “Need not have a spirit of timidity” in learning or sharing—be bold, though the hosts admit they’re still working on that confidence.Tone & Takeaway:This episode is playful, linguistic, and philosophical—mixing etymology with personal stories about teaching, language quirks, group conformity, and confidence. It ties biblical language curiosity to everyday communication and social norms. Support the show---Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice. Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.