quiver

[kwiv-er]

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verb (used with or without object)

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

noun

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

Origin of quiver

1480–90; origin uncertain; compare Middle Dutch quiveren to tremble

Related formsquiv·er·er, nounquiv·er·ing·ly, adverbquiv·er·y, adjectiveun·quiv·ered, adjectiveun·quiv·er·ing, adjective

Synonyms for quiver

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR quiver ON THESAURUS.COM

1. quake, shudder, shiver. See shake. 2. shudder, shiver, shake.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for quivered

throb, pulsate, shudder, shiver, convulse, tremble, palpitate, thrill, beat, twitter, quaver, agitate, pulse, quake, tremor, dither, oscillate, jitter

Examples from the Web for quivered

Historical Examples of quivered

He could free his words from the pride of life, but not his voice; it quivered and betrayed him.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
From that moment, however, he quivered with anxious expectancy.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
On catching sight of Pierre he quivered with anxiety and sprang forward.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
At this the priest, who was looking on, suddenly understood the truth and also quivered.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
Madden quivered at his impotence to put his hand on the thief in the crowd.
The Cruise of the Dry Dock
T. S. Stribling

British Dictionary definitions for quivered

quiver

verb

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

noun

the state, process, or noise of shaking or trembling

Derived Formsquiverer, nounquivering, adjectivequiveringly, adverbquivery, adjective

Word Origin for quiver

C15: from obsolete cwiver quick, nimble; compare quaver

quiver

noun

a case for arrows

Word Origin for quiver

C13: from Old French cuivre; related to Old English cocer, Old Saxon kokari, Old High German kohhari, Medieval Latin cucurum

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 quivered

quiver

"to tremble," late 15c., perhaps imitative, or possibly an alteration of quaveren (see quaver), or from Old English cwifer- (in cwiferlice "zealously"), which is perhaps related to cwic "alive" (see quick). Related: Quivered; quivering. As a noun in this sense from 1715, from the verb.

quiver

"case for holding arrows," early 14c., from Anglo-French quiveir, Old French quivre, cuivre, probably of Germanic origin, from Proto-Germanic *kukur "container" (cf. Old High German kohhari, German Köcher, Old Saxon kokar, Old Frisian koker, Old English cocur "quiver"); "said to be from the language of the Huns" [Barnhart]. Related: Quiverful.