Nearby Words

quavers

[kwey-ver] Origin

qua·ver

[kwey-ver]
verb (used without object)
1.
to shake tremulously; quiver or tremble: He stood there quavering with fear.
2.
to sound, speak, or sing tremulously: Her voice quavered a moment and then she regained control.
3.
to perform trills in singing or on a musical instrument.
verb (used with object)
4.
to utter, say, or sing with a quavering or tremulous voice.

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Quavers is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
noun
5.
a quavering or tremulous shake, especially in the voice.
6.
a quavering tone or utterance.
7.
Music (chiefly British). an eighth note.


Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English quaveren (v.), blend of quake and waver1

qua·ver·er, noun
qua·ver·ing·ly, adverb
qua·ver·y, qua·ver·ous, adjective
un·qua·ver·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

quaver
"to vibrate, tremble," early 15c., probably frequentative of cwavien "to tremble, shake" (early 13c.), probably related to Low Ger. quabbeln "tremble," possibly of imitative origin. Meaning "sing in trills or quavers" first recorded 1538. The noun meaning "musical note" is first recorded 1570.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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