quake
UK: kweɪk | US: kweɪk
n. a sudden, violent shaking of the ground (e.g., an earthquake)
vi. to shake or tremble, especially from fear or instability
The word "quake" originates from Old English cwacian, meaning "to tremble" or "shake." It is a monomorphemic word with no further divisible roots or affixes in modern English. Its core meaning has remained consistent, evolving from describing physical trembling to also metaphorically expressing fear or instability (e.g., "quaking in one's boots"). The simplicity of its structure reflects its ancient Germanic roots, shared with related words like "quiver."
The ground began to quake during the earthquake.
She felt her legs quake with fear before the speech.
The old house quakes whenever a truck passes by.
His voice quaked as he delivered the bad news.
The dog quakes during thunderstorms.