trepidation English · revision 1288

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌtɹɛp.ɪˈdeɪ.ʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|trepidatio|t=agitation, alarm, trembling]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) partly through [[fr|trépidation]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''trepidāre'' “to tremble, hurry”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''trepidus'' “alarmed, anxious”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[intrepid]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A trembling or vibrating movement (1605),^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and agitated alarm or confusion (1607–12).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In old astronomy the word named a supposed oscillation of the eighth sphere, added to Ptolemy's system by the Arab astronomer Thabit ibn Qurra.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary) The physical sense of trembling is now archaic,^(MW Collegiate) and the word mainly means apprehensive fear about what may happen.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary) The adjective ''trepidatious'' is recorded by 1873.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1605 – a trembling motion.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1607–12 – agitation, alarm.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1631 – an astronomical libration.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1873 – ''trepidatious''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A state of fear or dread about what may happen; [[apprehension]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' An involuntary trembling or quivering; a [[tremor]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[intrepid]]

+ * [[trepid]]

+ * [[trepidatious]]

+ * [[tremble]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''trembling'' and ''fright'' as synonyms in the sense of fear, and ''quivering'' and ''shaking'' in the sense of tremor.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}