tremulous
TREM-yuh-lus
/ˈtrem.jə.ləs/
Shaking or quivering slightly; timid, nervous, or wavering.
Connects physical quivering or trembling directly with inner emotional nervousness or vulnerability.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'tremulus' (shaking), derived from 'tremere' (to tremble). It reached English in the early 17th century as a evocative word for voices and gestures fluttering with fear.
Word relationships
- quivering: 'Quivering' describes physical movement, while 'tremulous' fuses physical shaking with emotional nervousness.
- trembling: 'Trembling' can be due to cold or fear; 'tremulous' carries literary elegance describing delicate nervousness.
- steady: 'Steady' means firm, unwavering, and free from shaking.
- unwavering: 'Unwavering' stresses fixed resolve and immobility under pressure.
Commonly confused with
- tremendous: 'Tremendous' means huge or extraordinary, whereas 'tremulous' means trembling or nervous.
Word family
- tremulously (adverb): In a shaking or nervously timid manner.
- tremulousness (noun): The state of shaking or quivering from nervousness.
Collocations
- tremulous voice
- tremulous whisper
- tremulous hand
- tremulous breath
Example sentences
- "In a tremulous voice, she announced that the voyage would continue despite the rising storm." Classic Literature
- "He reached out with a tremulous hand to pick up the fragile glass ornament." Descriptive Fiction
Memory hook
Tremulous = TREMBLING with nervousness. Tremulous = shaky and nervous.
When not to use
Do not use to describe violent shaking from an earthquake or heavy machinery; use 'vibrating' or 'shaking'.
Fun facts
- The medical term 'tremor' and the word 'tremor-inducing' share the exact same Latin root 'tremere'.
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