tremble

[trem-buhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tremble ON THESAURUS.COM

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

the act of trembling.

a state or fit of trembling.

trembles, (used with a singular verb)

Pathology.milk sickness.
Veterinary Pathology.a toxic condition of cattle and sheep caused by the eating of white snakeroot and characterized by muscular tremors.

Origin of tremble

1275–1325; Middle English trem(b)len (v.) < Old French trembler < Vulgar Latin *tremulāre, derivative of Latin tremulus tremulous

Related formstrem·bling·ly, adverbun·trem·bling, adjectiveun·trem·bling·ly, adverb

Synonyms for tremble

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tremble ON THESAURUS.COM

1. shudder. See shake. 3. oscillate.

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

Related Words for trembled

quiver, throb, wobble, shudder, shiver, flutter, totter, palpitate, teeter, jar, quake, rock, tremor, quaver, oscillate, jitter

Examples from the Web for trembled

Contemporary Examples of trembled

“He turned pale, trembled to a great degree, was much agitated, and began to cry,” she told the court.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion
Nina Strochlic
January 8, 2015
When the queen heard this once again, she trembled and shook with rage.
In New Brothers Grimm 'Snow White', The Prince Doesn't Save Her
The Brothers Grimm
November 30, 2014
Before I could move she flattened her belly to the ground, crouched, trembled, and sprang into his face.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show
Robert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
Then, as I trembled with fear, the driver turned and looked straight at me.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show
Robert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014

Historical Examples of trembled

The spirit of the strong man was moved, and he trembled like a leaf shaken by the wind.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
He appeared very frightened, and trembled from head to foot.
Explorations in Australia
John Forrest
I could see and hear all that was going on, and trembled for my safety.
Biography of a Slave
Charles Thompson
She had expected to see the doctor, and started and trembled at sight of Hester.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
When he had only kissed her arm—He trembled a little at the memory.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart

British Dictionary definitions for trembled

tremble

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for trembled

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.