Etymologically
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tremo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈtrɛ.moː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtrɛː.mo][1]

Forms

tremō (present infinitive tremere, perfect active tremuī); third conjugation, no supine stem[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *trem-e/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *tr(e)m- (“to tremble”).[2][1] Cognate with Ancient Greek τρέμω (trémō, “to tremble”) and Lithuanian trìmti (“to tremble”), and perhaps with Umbrian tremitu.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus.[2] The Carmen Saliare already has the old form tremonti.[2][3] Plautus has a woman whose limbs are trembling.[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to tremble or quake with fear, cold or excitement, and with an object to tremble at or fear something, as in Lucilius' fear of witches.[3] Of things it meant to quiver, vibrate or shake.[3]

Its derivatives include tremor, tremulus and the gerundive tremendus “to be feared”.[1][5] English tremor comes from tremor through Old French, and English tremble from Medieval Latin tremulāre.[5] It survives in Italian tremare and Spanish tremer.[1]

Timeline

  • Archaic – the Carmen Saliare has tremonti.[2]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has trembling limbs.[3][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence has “I tremble all over”.[3][4]
  • mid-14th century – English tremble is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To tremble, quake, shiver (with fear or cold).[3]
  2. To tremble at, fear.[3]
  3. (of things) To quiver, vibrate, shake.[3]

Word family

  • attremo
  • contremō
  • intremō
  • tremebundus
  • tremefaciō
  • tremēscō
  • tremor
  • tremulus
  • trepidus
  • English tremor
  • English tremble

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com