frisson

American  

[free-sohn, free-sawn] / friˈsõʊ̃, friˈsɔ̃ /

noun

frissons plural

1. a sudden, passing sensation of excitement; a shudder of emotion; thrill.

   The movie offers the viewer the occasional frisson of seeing a character in mortal danger.

---

frisson British  

/ frisɔ̃ /

noun

1. a shudder or shiver; thrill

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• frissons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of frisson

First recorded in 1770–80; from French: “shiver, shudder,” Old French friçons (plural), from Late Latin frictiōnem, accusative of frictiō “shiver” (taken as derivative of frīgēre “to be cold”), from Latin: “massage, friction”; see also friction

Explanation

A frisson is a thrilling shiver. Some people love roller coasters so much that they feel a frisson of excitement just looking at one. You're just as likely to feel a frisson whether you're scared or excited; its meaning lies directly between thrill and fear. When you hear a scary sound in the basement late at night, and open the door to investigate, you might feel a frisson of fear as you start to descend the steps. The Latin root is frigere, "to be cold," and while a frisson is certainly shivery, its source is a thrill rather than a chill.