tremble
[ trem-buhl ]
/ ˈtrɛm bəl /
verb (used without object), trem·bled, trem·bling.
to shake involuntarily with quick, short movements, as from fear, excitement, weakness, or cold; quake; quiver.
to be troubled with fear or apprehension.
(of things) to be affected with vibratory motion.
to be tremulous, as light or sound: His voice trembled.
noun
Nearby words
Origin of tremble
1275–1325; Middle English trem(b)len (v.) < Old French trembler < Vulgar Latin *tremulāre, derivative of Latin tremulus tremulous
SYNONYMS FOR tremble
Related formstrem·bling·ly, adverbun·trem·bling, adjectiveun·trem·bling·ly, adverb
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for tremble
British Dictionary definitions for tremble
tremble
/ (ˈtrɛmbəl) /
verb (intr)
to vibrate with short slight movements; quiver
to shake involuntarily, as with cold or fear; shiver
to experience fear or anxiety
noun
the act or an instance of trembling
Derived Formstrembling, adjectivetremblingly, adverbtrembly, adjective
Word Origin for tremble
C14: from Old French trembler, from Medieval Latin tremulāre, from Latin tremulus quivering, from tremere to quake
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for tremble
tremble
c.1300, "shake from fear, cold, etc.," from Old French trembler "tremble, fear" (11c.), from Vulgar Latin *tremulare (source of Italian tremolare, Spanish temblar), from Latin tremulus "trembling, tremulous," from tremere "to tremble, shiver, quake," from PIE *trem- "to tremble" (cf. Greek tremein "to shiver, tremble," Lithuanian trimu "to chase away," Old Church Slavonic treso "to shake," Gothic þramstei "grasshopper"). A native word for this was Old English bifian. Related: Trembled; trembling. The noun is recorded from c.1600.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper