tremble Hear it!

tremble Definition

trem·ble (trem′bəl)

intransitive verb -·bled, -·bling

  1. to shake involuntarily from cold, fear, excitement, fatigue, etc.; shiver
  2. to feel great fear or anxiety
  3. to quiver, quake, totter, vibrate, etc.
  4. to quaver her voice trembled

Etymology: ME tremblen < OFr trembler < VL *tremulare < L tremulus, trembling < tremere, to tremble < IE *trem- (< base *ter-) > Gr tremein, to tremble

noun

    1. the act or condition of trembling
    2. a fit or state of trembling
  2. ☆ a disease of cattle and sheep caused by a poisonous, oily alcohol contained in certain plants, as white snakeroot, and characterized by muscular tremors and a stumbling gait: communicated to humans as milk sickness

tremble Related Forms
trem′·bler noun trem′·blingly adverb trem′·bly adjective
tremble Synonyms

tremble

v.

quiver, shiver, vibrate; see shake 1.

tremble Usage Examples

Object

  • lip: Maybe a smile starts to tug at the girls trembling lips.
  • finger: They pointed with trembling fingers at the glorious sight.
  • hand: Curious, her trembling hand reached for his mask.
  • knee: With quaking heart and trembling knees, he was ushered into the Chief Commissioner's presence.
  • voice: In a trembling voice she replied, " Lord, any man is better than none " .
  • soul: Glory to You for the prayers offered by a trembling soul.

Modifying Another Word

  • violently: I trembled violently; I could scarcely stand upright.
  • uncontrollably: Blood pounded in his ears, and he found he was trembling uncontrollably.
  • visibly: By know I was visibly trembling with the shock of this sudden revelation.

Noun used with modifier

  • heaven: The pillars of heaven tremble and are amazed at His rebuke.
  • mountain: The opener is a passable cover of ' Did you feel the mountains tremble ' but adds nothing new.

Preposition: in

  • anticipation: I think Mademoiselle Lucy will now confess that the cord and gallows are amply earned; she trembles in anticipation of her doom.
  • limb: In the first ecstasy of delight I felt her tremble in every limb.

Preposition: with

  • excitement: The stiff upper British lip trembles with excitement at the mere mention of its name.
  • fear: He would also witness the strange Light shining like a great star, and he would tremble with fear.
  • emotion: His voice trembling with emotion, Hoffman asks the audience to congratulate his mom if they see her.
  • terror: The girls were sitting up in bed clinging to each other, and trembling with terror.
  • joy: The answer made him turn pale, and tremble with joy.

Preposition: for

  • ark: THE key to Eli's character is in these simple words: " His heart trembled for the ark of God.

Preposition: like

  • leaf: Not much: for you tremble like a leaf still.
tremble Quotes

Why wilt thou ever scare me with thy tears, And make me tremble lest a saying learnt, In days far-off, on that dark earth, be true? 'The gods themselves cannot recall their gifts.'

—Tennyson

I pant, I sink, I tremble, I expire!

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

I tremble in this factory of books. What love he must have lost to write so much.

—A'Ghobhainn