Timid means easily frightened and slow to step forward. A timid child, a timid knock, timid about it.
It describes a settled disposition rather than a moment's fear, and it applies to animals as readily as to people. Applied to a decision or a policy it is a criticism meaning too cautious to work: a timid response, timid reform. Note timidity; and that timid and shy differ — shy is about other people, and timid is about risk of any kind, which is why a timid animal is not embarrassed.
1adjectivetimidEasily frightened and slow to step forward.
“The timid little deer ran off as soon as we came near.”
2adjectivecautiousToo cautious to be effective.
“Critics said the government's plan was too timid to solve the housing crisis.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
timid is a quality of fearfulness.
Latin timidus comes from timere, to fear. Timorous and intimidate come from the same fearing, so to intimidate is to make somebody timid.
Latin
timidus
Middle French
timide
English, today
timid
Built from
From Middle French timide, from Latin timidus. From Middle French timide, from Latin timidus (“full of fear, fearful, timid”), from timeō (“to fear”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA