Timeo

Timeo is a Latin verb of the second conjugation meaning “to fear” or “to be afraid.” It is primarily active and can take a direct object in the accusative (timeo hostes, I fear the enemies) or introduce a clause with ne to express fear that something will happen (timeo ne veniat, I fear that he may come). It can also appear with ut in certain constructions to express cautious worry.

The present indicative forms are timeo, times, timet, timeamus, timeatis, timent. The imperfect forms are timebam, timebas, timebat, timebamus, timebatis, timebant. The future forms are timebo, timebis, timebit, timebimus, timebitis, timebunt. The perfect tense is timui, timeisti, timeit, timeimus, timeistis, timeunt. The verb is frequently used with verbs of fearing events or persons and with phrases such as timeo ne or timeo ut, depending on the nuance of fear being conveyed.

Etymologically, timeo derives from a Proto-Italic root tim-, related to the noun timor (fear) and the adjective timid(us). The term yields common Latin derivatives such as timor (fear) and timid(us) (fearful, cautious).

In classical Latin literature, timeo appears widely across authors such as Caesar and Cicero, reflecting ordinary speech as well as more formal rhetoric. In translation and study, it is a standard example of a verb of feeling and of how fear conditions syntax and nuance in Latin.