Word of the Day

Thursday, June 05, 2008

tremulous

\TREM-yuh-luhs\ , adjective;

Shaking; shivering; quivering; as, a tremulous motion of the hand or the lips; the tremulous leaf of the poplar.

Affected with fear or timidity; trembling.

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Quotes:

With an address for his father at last in his possession, Sead could scarcely contain a tremulous excitement.

-- Roger Cohen, Hearts Grown Brutal

In any event, when I thrust myself out of bed so violently, my heart became tremulous, . . . and I had the direst sense of mortality I have ever experienced.

-- Jim Harrison, The Road Home

Origin:

Tremulous comes from Latin tremulus, from tremere, "to tremble."