trep·i·da·tion

[trep-i-dey-shuhn]
noun
1.
tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation.
2.
trembling or quivering movement; tremor.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Latin trepidātiōn- (stem of trepidātiō), equivalent to trepidāt(us) (past participle of trepidāre to hurry, alarm; see trepid, -ate1) + -iōn- -ion

trep·i·da·tious, adjective
trep·i·da·tious·ly, adverb


1. trembling, fright. 2. quivering, shaking.
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World English Dictionary
trepidation (ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a state of fear or anxiety
2.  a condition of quaking or palpitation, esp one caused by anxiety
 
[C17: from Latin trepidātiō, from trepidāre to be in a state of alarm; compare intrepid]

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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

trepidation
1605, from L. trepidationem (nom. trepidatio) "agitation, alarm, trembling," noun of action from pp. stem of trepidare "to tremble, hurry," from trepidus "alarmed, scared," from PIE *trep- "to shake, tremble" (cf. Skt. trprah "hasty," O.C.S. trepetati "to tremble"), related to *trem- (see tremble).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

trepidation trep·i·da·tion (trěp'ĭ-dā'shən)
n.

  1. An involuntary trembling or quivering.

  2. A state of anxious fear; apprehension.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Granted, until one is a full professor, there is still a little trepidation.
Patrol officers experience periods of boredom punctuated by moments of
  trepidation and danger.
The cutbacks in the federal budget are further exacerbated by the continuing
  trepidation of many venture capitalists.
She goes out in trepidation, in order to do some shopping.
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