Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

quaver

[kwey-ver]
See more synonyms for quaver on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to shake tremulously; quiver or tremble: He stood there quavering with fear.
  2. to sound, speak, or sing tremulously: Her voice quavered a moment and then she regained control.
  3. to perform trills in singing or on a musical instrument.
Show More
verb (used with object)
  1. to utter, say, or sing with a quavering or tremulous voice.
Show More
noun
  1. a quavering or tremulous shake, especially in the voice.
  2. a quavering tone or utterance.
  3. Music (chiefly British ). an eighth note.
Show More

Origin of quaver

1400–50; late Middle English quaveren (v.), blend of quake and waver1
Related formsqua·ver·er, nounqua·ver·ing·ly, adverbqua·ver·y, qua·ver·ous, adjectiveun·qua·ver·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

shudderquiverquakewobblevibratenoteshivervacillatewavershakefaltertremortrembleoscillatetrill

Examples from the Web for quavering

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Not of age—merely of time; for here was no senility, no quavering or fretful lines.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • My heart sank and my voice dwindled to a quavering, unfamiliar whisper.

  • Still looking from him, "I said you were very good to me," she said in a quavering whisper.

    The Black Bag

    Louis Joseph Vance

  • A querulous, high-pitched voice, quavering with the palsy of extreme age.

    The Slave Of The Lamp

    Henry Seton Merriman

  • "Dass his blood," he said, in the same gentle, quavering tone.

British Dictionary definitions for quavering

quaver

verb
  1. to say or sing (something) with a trembling voice
  2. (intr) (esp of the voice) to quiver, tremble, or shake
  3. (intr) rare to sing or play quavers or ornamental trills
Show More
noun
  1. music a note having the time value of an eighth of a semibreveUsual US and Canadian name: eighth note
  2. a tremulous sound or note
Show More
Derived Formsquaverer, nounquavering, adjectivequaveringly, adverbquavery, adjective

Word Origin

C15 (in the sense: to vibrate, quiver 1): from quaven to tremble, of Germanic origin; compare Low German quabbeln to tremble
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for quavering

quaver

v.

"to vibrate, tremble," early 15c., probably a frequentative of cwavien "to tremble, shake" (early 13c.), which probably is related to Low German quabbeln "tremble," and possibly of imitative origin. Meaning "sing in trills or quavers" first recorded 1530s. Related: Quavered; quavering.

Show More

quaver

n.

1560s, in music, "eighth note," from quaver (v.). Meaning "a tremble in the voice" is from 1748.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper