Trivia Time

Which fictional character is known for carrying a quiver?

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quiver

¹ American  

[kwiv-er] / ˈkwɪv ər /

verb (used with or without object)

quivers, present (3rd person singular) quivered, past participle, past quivering present participle

1. to shake with a slight but rapid motion; vibrate tremulously; tremble.

   Synonyms:

   shiver, shudder, quake

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noun

1. the act or state of quivering; a tremble or tremor.

   Synonyms:

   shake, shiver, shudder

quiver ² American  

[kwiv-er] / ˈkwɪv ər /

noun

1. a case for holding or carrying arrows.

2. the arrows in such a case.

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quiver ¹ British  

/ ˈkwɪvə /

verb

1. (intr) to shake with a rapid tremulous movement; tremble

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noun

1. the state, process, or noise of shaking or trembling

quiver ² British  

/ ˈkwɪvə /

noun

1. a case for arrows

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Synonym Usage

See shake.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unquivered
  adjective
• quiverer
  noun
• quivering
  adjective
• quivery
  adjective
• quiveringly
  adverb

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has quivered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have quivered
  perfect
• has been quivering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am quivering
  progressive 1st person singular
• is quivering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been quivering
  perfect progressive
• are quivering
  progressive
• quivers
  singular 3rd person
• quivering
  participle

Past

• had quivered
  perfect
• had been quivering
  perfect progressive
• were quivering
  progressive plural
• was quivering
  progressive singular
• quivered
  simple
• quivered
  participle

Future

• will quiver
  simple
• will have quivered
  perfect
• will have been quivering
  perfect progressive
• will be quivering
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of quiver¹

First recorded in 1480–90; origin uncertain; compare Middle Dutch quiveren “to tremble”

Origin of quiver²

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French quiveir, variant of Old French quivre; perhaps < Germanic; compare Old English cocer quiver

Explanation

Scaredy cats around the globe know that quivering is a trembling, shaking motion. A cold gust of wind might make you quiver, as would an icy glare from the abominable snowman. The verb to quiver means to shudder, wobble, or vibrate, often from fear. But the noun quiver? It's actually the carrying case for your arrows, just the kind of thing Robin Hood would have strapped to his back. So imagine one of his arrows sailing through the air, hitting a tree with a hearty whack!, and then quivering there for a few seconds.

Related Words

• convulse
• pulsate
• shiver
• shudder
• throb
• tremble