I. ˈtrembəl verb
( trembled ; trembled ; trembling -b(ə)liŋ ; trembles )
Etymology: Middle English tremblen, from Middle French trembler, from Medieval Latin tremulare, from Latin tremulus tremulous, from tremere to tremble; akin to Greek tremein to tremble, Lithuanian trimti, Tocharian A träm-
intransitive verb
1. : to shake involuntarily (as with fear, cold, excitement, fatigue) : shiver , shudder , quiver
2. : to move, sound, pass, or come to pass as if shaken or tremulous
the building trembled but did not fall
dusk was trembling on the verges of the hills — Nancy Hale
3. : to become affected with tremulousness : fear greatly : become strongly affected
I tremble for you
trembling to think of what might have happened
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to fear exceedingly : shudder at
2. : to make tremble : cause to tremble
3. : to speak or say tremulously
trembled out a few words of appreciation
II. noun
( -s )
1. : an act of trembling : a fit or spell of involuntary shaking or quivering : a tremor or series of tremors : vibratory movement
2. : american aspen
3. trembles plural but singular in construction : poisoning of livestock and especially cattle caused by a toxic alcohol present in white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod which are common in parts of the western and central U.S., marked by muscular tremors, weakness, and constipation, and often progressing to coma and death — compare milk sickness , tremetol