trepidation

[ trep-i-dey-shuhn ]

/ ˌtrɛp ɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation.

trembling or quivering movement; tremor.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 trepidatiously

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 trepidatiously

trepidation

[ trĕp′ĭ-dā′shən ]

n.

An involuntary trembling or quivering.

A state of anxious fear; apprehension.