quaver

[ kwey-ver ]
/ ˈkweɪ vər /

verb (used without object)

to shake tremulously; quiver or tremble: He stood there quavering with fear.
to sound, speak, or sing tremulously: Her voice quavered a moment and then she regained control.
to perform trills in singing or on a musical instrument.

verb (used with object)

to utter, say, or sing with a quavering or tremulous voice.

noun

Origin of quaver

1400–50; late Middle English quaveren (v.), blend of quake and waver1

OTHER WORDS FROM quaver

qua·ver·er, noun qua·ver·ing·ly, adverb qua·ver·y, qua·ver·ous, adjective un·qua·ver·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for quavering

British Dictionary definitions for quavering

quaver
/ (ˈkweɪvə) /

verb

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

noun

music a note having the time value of an eighth of a semibreve Usual US and Canadian name: eighth note
a tremulous sound or note

Derived forms of quaver

quaverer, noun quavering, adjective quaveringly, adverb quavery, adjective

Word Origin for quaver

C15 (in the sense: to vibrate, quiver 1): from quaven to tremble, of Germanic origin; compare Low German quabbeln to tremble