Tremble
/ˈtrɛm.bəl/noun
To shake involuntarily or with fear, cold, weakness, or excitement.
Did you know?Tremble comes from a Latin root tied to shaking and quivering, the same ancient family behind words for trembling motion across the Romance languages.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*trem-
“To tremble, shake, or fear”
Latin
Latin
tremere
“To tremble, quake, or shiver”
Late Latin
Latin
tremulare
“To shake, make tremble”
Old French
Old French
trembler
“To tremble, shake”
Middle English
English
tremblen
“To shake or quiver”
Modern English
English
tremble
“To shake involuntarily or with emotion”