trepidatio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [trɛ.pɪˈdaː.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [tre.piˈdat.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

trepidātiō f (genitive trepidātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin trepido (“to tremble, waver”) + -tiō.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates its first use to Hirtius, c. 50 BC.^[3] Cicero, in the speech for King Deiotarus, asks whether there was any alarm or uproar.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It was a state of confused alarm or hurry, agitation and consternation.^[2][4] Lewis & Short note it is rare before the Augustan period.^[4][2] Livy and Tacitus use it of confusion in an army or a city.^[5] Seneca uses it of physical trembling of the nerves.^[2][5]

In medieval British Latin it meant fearfulness.^[6] English trepidation is recorded around 1600.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 50 BC – Hirtius uses it.^[3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of alarm.^[2][3]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of trembling.^[2][3]
• c. 1600 – English trepidation is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Confused alarm, agitation, trepidation.^[2][4]
2. Trembling, twitching.^[2][1]

Related words

• trepidus
• English trepidation

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com