Nearby Words

quaking

[kweyk] Origin

quake

[kweyk] verb, quaked, quak·ing, noun
verb (used without object)
1.
(of persons) to shake or tremble from cold, weakness, fear, anger, or the like: He spoke boldly even though his legs were quaking.
2.
(of things) to shake or tremble, as from shock, internal convulsion, or instability: The earth suddenly began to quake.
noun
3.
an earthquake.
4.
a trembling or tremulous agitation.

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Quaking is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English cwacian to shake, tremble

quak·ing·ly, adverb
un·quak·ing, adjective


1. shudder. See shiver1. 2. quiver.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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World English Dictionary
quaking (ˈkweɪkɪŋ)
 
adj
unstable or unsafe to walk on, as a bog or quicksand: a quaking bog; quaking sands

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

quake
O.E. cwacian "quake, tremble, chatter (of teeth)," related to cweccan "to shake, swing, move, vibrate," of unknown origin with no certain cognates outside Eng. Perhaps somehow imitative. The noun is attested from c.1300, but was rare except in combinations.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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