tremble
UK: ˈtrɛmb(ə)l | US: ˈtrɛmb(ə)l
vi. to shake involuntarily (typically due to fear, cold, or weakness)
n. an act or instance of trembling
tremble = trem<shake> + ble<verb-forming suffix>
- trem (from Latin tremere, meaning "to shake")
- ble (a suffix used to form verbs, often indicating capability or action)
Etymology Origin:
The word "tremble" traces back to the Latin tremere, meaning "to shake," which also gave rise to related words like "tremor" and "tremulous." The suffix -ble (from Latin -bilis) was added to form a verb denoting the action of shaking. Over time, "tremble" evolved in Old French as trembler before entering Middle English with its current spelling and meaning. The word vividly captures the physical or emotional quivering it describes.
Her hands tremble when she’s nervous.
The leaves tremble in the wind.
He felt a tremble of fear as the door creaked open.
The ground began to tremble during the earthquake.
She couldn’t stop her voice from trembling during the speech.