Quake
/kweɪk/noun
To shake or tremble, especially as a result of an earthquake.
Did you know?The Old English 'cwacian' used to describe a shake or tremble is linked to the very essence of chaos in nature, hinting at ancient fears of the earth's wrath.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kwēk-
“to shake or tremble.”
Old English
Old English
cwacian
“to shake, tremble, or quake.”
Middle English
Middle English
quaken
“to shake or tremble, often used in contexts of fear.”
Early Modern English
Early Modern English
quake
“to shake violently, especially in reference to earthquakes.”
Modern English
English
quake
“to tremble or shake as a result of a seismic event.”