Tremulous
/ˈtrɛm.jʊ.ləs/noun
Shaking slightly or unsteadily; timid or nervous.
Did you know?Tremulous comes from Latin *tremulus*, from *tremere* “to shake, tremble,” the same root behind words tied to quake-like motion and fear.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*trem-
“to tremble, shake”
Latin
Latin
tremere
“to shake, tremble”
Latin
Latin
tremulus
“trembling, shivering”
Late Latin
Latin
tremulosus
“full of trembling; shaky”
Middle English
English
tremulous
“shaking, quivering; timid”
Explore more surprising origins