Quivering

/ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/ verb; adjective

Definition

Shaking slightly and quickly, either from cold, fear, emotion, or vibration.

Etymology

From Middle English 'quiveren,' possibly from Old English or Old Norse origins related to movement, the word has meant a slight, rapid trembling for centuries.

Kelly Says

A quivering voice is more emotionally honest than any words you could speak—neuroscience shows that trembling in the voice happens because fear and emotion literally override your brain's normal control of vocal cords.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Quivering has been disproportionately associated with female bodies as a marker of weakness, fear, or sexual vulnerability in literature and film. Male trembling is more often read as intensity or barely-contained power.

Inclusive Usage

Use descriptively for any body's physical response without gendered connotations; specify the cause (cold, exertion, emotion) to avoid stereotype.

Inclusive Alternatives

["trembling","shaking","vibrating"]

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