To shake involuntarily from cold, fear, excitement, or physical weakness.
From Old French 'trembler', from Latin 'tremulus' meaning 'shaking', related to 'tremere' meaning 'to shake'. The word has maintained its core meaning of involuntary shaking across languages and centuries.
The word 'tremble' is related to 'tremendous', both coming from Latin roots meaning 'to shake'. This connection reveals how our ancestors understood awe-inspiring things as literally shake-inducing, linking physical and emotional responses to overwhelming experiences.
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