Trepidation
/ˌtrɛp.ɪˈdeɪ.ʃən/noun
A feeling of fear or nervous uncertainty about something that may happen.
Did you know?Trepidation comes from Latin trepidare, meaning “to tremble, hurry in alarm,” and its deeper root is tied to physical agitation long before it became a word for inner dread.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*trep-
“to turn, waver, or be restless”
Latin
Latin
trepidare
“to hurry in alarm, tremble, or be in confusion”
Latin
Latin
trepidatio
“alarm, agitation, nervous haste”
Late Latin
Latin
trepidationem
“a state of alarm or trembling”
Middle French
Old French
trepidation
“alarm, agitation”
Late Middle English
English
trepidacion
“fearful agitation or alarm”
Modern English
English
trepidation
“nervous fear or apprehension”