quaver

quaver [kwey-ver] ExamplesWord Origin 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.

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 of quaver 1400–50; late Middle English quaveren (v.), blend of quake and waver1 Related formsqua·ver·er, nounqua·ver·ing·ly, adverbqua·ver·y, qua·ver·ous, adjectiveun·qua·ver·ing, adjective Related Words for quavered shudder, quiver, quake, wobble, vibrate, note, shiver, vacillate, waver, shake, falter, tremor, tremble, oscillate, trill Examples from the Web for quavered Historical Examples of quavered

He quavered uncertainly down the steps, and Amelia called a halt.

Tiverton Tales

Alice Brown

“You see how it—how it made me look, mama,” she quavered, having concluded her narrative.

Alice Adams

Booth Tarkington

Henriette endeavored to comfort them, but it was in a voice that quavered strangely.

The Downfall

Emile Zola

“I trust there has been no misunderstanding,” quavered Mrs. Munt.

Howards End

E. M. Forster

“It must have been the Hamburg bark that sailed last night,” quavered Scanlon.

Wild Justice: Stories of the South Seas

Lloyd Osbourne

British Dictionary definitions for quavered quaver verb

1. to say or sing (something) with a trembling voice
2. (intr) (esp of the voice) to quiver, tremble, or shake
3. (intr) rare to sing or play quavers or ornamental trills

noun

4. music a note having the time value of an eighth of a semibreveUsual US and Canadian name: eighth note
5. a tremulous sound or note

Derived Formsquaverer, nounquavering, adjectivequaveringly, adverbquavery, adjectiveWord Origin for quaver C15 (in the sense: to vibrate, quiver 1): from quaven to tremble, of Germanic origin; compare Low German quabbeln to tremble Word Origin and History for quavered quaver v.

“to vibrate, tremble,” early 15c., probably a frequentative of cwavien “to tremble, shake” (early 13c.), which probably is related to Low German quabbeln “tremble,” and possibly of imitative origin. Meaning “sing in trills or quavers” first recorded 1530s. Related: Quavered; quavering.

quaver n.

1560s, in music, “eighth note,” from quaver (v.). Meaning “a tremble in the voice” is from 1748.