quiver

Noun · Verb
US[kwiv-er]/ˈkwɪvɚ/2 syllables
Synonyms: frissonshiverchillshudderthrilltingleshakingshakinesstremblingquiveringvibrationpalpitation

Open English WordNet

Verb (3)quivered, quivering

  1. shake with fast, tremulous movements“His nostrils palpitated”Synonyms: quakepalpitateMore general tremble
  2. move back and forth very rapidly“the candle flickered”Synonyms: flickerwaverflitterflutterMore general move back and forth
  3. move with or as if with a regular alternating motion“the city pulsated with music and excitement”Synonyms: pulsatebeatMore general moveSimilar pulsate, throb

Noun (4)

  1. an almost pleasurable sensation of fright“a frisson of surprise shot through him”Synonyms: frissonshiverchillshudderthrilltingleType of fear, fearfulness
  2. a shaky motion“the shaking of his fingers as he lit his pipe”Synonyms: shakingshakinesstremblingquiveringvibrationpalpitationType of motionKinds tremolo, tremor
  3. case for holding arrowsType of case
  4. the act of vibratingSynonyms: vibrationquiveringType of motion, movementKinds tremor, shudder

Related words palpitant adjective, shaking noun, flicker noun, shivery adjective, shudder verb, shaky adjective

Word of the day · Oct 16About this word
bombasticadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Quiv′er (kwĭv′ẽr), adjective

Origin: Akin to AS. cwiferlice anxiously; cf. OD. kuiven, kuiveren. Cf. Quaver.

Nimble; active. obsolete “ A little quiver fellow.” William Shakespeare

Quiv′er intransitive verb [past tense & past participle Quivered (kwĭv′ẽrd); present participle & verbal noun Quivering.]

Origin: Cf. Quaver.

To shake or move with slight and tremulous motion; to tremble; to quake; to shudder; to shiver.

The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind.— William Shakespeare
And left the limbs still quivering on the ground.— Joseph Addison
Quiv′er noun

The act or state of quivering; a tremor.

Quiv′er noun

Origin: OF. cuivre, cuevre, coivre, LL. cucurum, fr. OHG. chohhāri quiver, receptacle, G. köcher quiver; akin to AS. cocor, cocur, cocer, D. koker. Cf. Cocker a high shoe.

A case or sheath for arrows to be carried on the person.

Beside him hung his bow And quiver, with three-bolted thunder stored.— John Milton

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

The Devil's Dictionary

QUIVER, n. A portable sheath in which the ancient statesman and the aboriginal lawyer carried their lighter arguments.

He extracted from his quiver, Did the controversial Roman, An argument well fitted To the question as submitted, Then addressed it to the liver, Of the unpersuaded foeman. Oglum P. Boomp

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