| trepidation | 1. An involuntary trembling, sometimes an effect of paralysis, but usually caused by terror or fear; quaking; quivering. 2. Hence, a state of terror or alarm; fear; confusion; fright; as, the men were in great trepidation. 3. A libration of the starry sphere in the Ptolemaic system; a motion ascribed to the firmament, to account for certain small changes in the position of the ecliptic and of the stars. Synonym: Tremor, agitation, disturbance, fear. Origin: F. Trepidation, L. Trepidatio, fr. Trepidare to hurry with alarm, to tremble, from trepidus agitated, disturbed, alarmed; cf. Trepit he turns, Gr. To turn, E. Torture. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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