Etymology
Advertisement

quaver (v.)

early 15c., quaveren, "to vibrate, tremble, have a tremulous motion," probably a frequentative of cwavien "to tremble, shake, be afraid" (early 13c.), which probably is related to Low German quabbeln "tremble," and possibly of imitative origin. With Germanic verbal suffix indicating repeated or diminutive action (see -er (4)). The meaning "sing in trills or quavers, sing with a tremulous tone" is recorded by 1530s. Related: Quavered; quavering.

quaver (n.)

1560s, in music, "an eighth-note," from quaver (v.). Sense of "a shake or trill in singing" is from 1610s; meaning "a tremble in the voice" is by 1748.

Entries linking to quaver

-er (4)

Germanic derivational suffix of verbs, indicating repeated or diminutive action, as in clamber, clatter, flicker (v.), glitter (v.), quaver, shimmer, slumber (v.), wander, waver. Compare also snaker (Middle English snakeren) "to sneak, slink" (c. 1200), from Old Norse.

quake (v.)

Middle English quaken, from Old English cwacian "quake (of the earth), tremble, shudder (of persons, from cold, emotion, fear, fever, etc.), chatter (of teeth)," related to cweccan "to shake, swing, move, vibrate," words of unknown origin with no certain cognates outside English. Perhaps somehow imitative (compare quag, quaver, quiver (v.), Middle English quaven "tremble, shake, palpitate," c. 1200). Related: Quaked; quaking. In Middle English formerly also with strong past-participle form quoke. The North American quaking aspen is so called by 1822.

updated on January 31, 2023

Advertisement
Advertisement

Dictionary entries near quaver

quatorzain

quatorze

quatrain

quatrefoil

quattrocento

quaver

quay

quean

queasy

Quebec

Quechua

© 2001-2023 Douglas Harper