trepidation

[ trep-i-dey-shuhn ]
/ ˌtrɛp ɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation.
trembling or quivering movement; tremor.

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Here is our second set of teacher-selected PSAT vocabulary words. Do you know the meanings of these terms?
Question 1 of 10
advocate
to give up possession or occupancy of.
to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.
to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence.
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Origin of trepidation

1595–1605; < Latin trepidātiōn- (stem of trepidātiō), equivalent to trepidāt(us) (past participle of trepidāre to hurry, alarm; see trepid, -ate1) + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR trepidation

1 trembling, fright.
2 quivering, shaking.

OTHER WORDS FROM trepidation

trep·i·da·tious, adjectivetrep·i·da·tious·ly, adverb

Words nearby trepidation

trephination, trephine, trepid, trepidant, trepidatio cordis, trepidation, treponema, treponema pallidum, treponema pallidum hemagglutination test, treponema pallidum immobilization test, treponema pertenue
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for trepidatious

trepidation
/ (ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən) /

noun

a state of fear or anxiety
a condition of quaking or palpitation, esp one caused by anxiety

Word Origin for trepidation

C17: from Latin trepidātiō, from trepidāre to be in a state of alarm; compare intrepid
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

Medical definitions for trepidatious

trepidation
[ trĕp′ĭ-dā′shən ]

n.

An involuntary trembling or quivering.
A state of anxious fear; apprehension.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.