palpitate
UK: /ˈpælpɪteɪt/ | US: /ˈpælpɪteɪt/
vi. to beat rapidly or irregularly (of the heart)
vi. to tremble or shake noticeably
vi. to flutter or throb (with strong emotion)
Derived from Latin palpitare (frequentative of palpare "to touch gently, stroke"), palpitate originally described a rapid, repetitive motion akin to fluttering or trembling. The root palpit- evokes the physical sensation of a heartbeat or quivering, while the suffix -ate marks it as a verb. Over time, the word expanded from literal heartbeats to metaphorical trembling (e.g., from fear or excitement).
Her heart began to palpitate wildly as the exam results were announced.
The hummingbird’s wings palpitate too fast for the human eye to see.
He felt his hands palpitate with nervous energy before the speech.
The patient reported palpitations after drinking too much coffee.
Leaves palpitated in the gusty wind like a thousand tiny flags.