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Glite Dictionary
atremble

atremble

9.8
Shaking because you feel afraid, excited, or cold
  • adjective
  • /əˈtrɛmbl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : tembloroso
  • She felt atremble in the cold wind, wrapping her scarf tighter around her neck.

Examples

  • All atremble, this newborn virginal child.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • But my crooks . . . . . . unlike theirs . . . . . . are all atremble . . . . . .to be too crooked .

    All the King's Men (2006)

  • I was atremble with fear as I stood on the edge of the cliff.

  • His voice was atremble with emotion as he spoke about his lost love.

Synonyms

shaky
vsatremble
59 2.1

Not steady and trembling, often from fear, cold, or tiredness

focuses on shaking due to emotion fear or cold rather than instability
shivering
vsatremble
3 2.2

Trembling a little because of cold, fear, or excitement

is more general focusing on shaking caused by emotion fear or cold
shuddering
vsatremble
2 5.1

Shaking strongly because of fear, cold, or strong emotion

is milder general shaking from emotion fear or cold rather than violent convulsions
aquiver
vsatremble
1 9.9

Shaking slightly, often because of excitement or strong feeling

is broader and covers shaking from emotion fear or cold
trembling
vsatremble
1 2.6

Shaking slightly because you feel afraid, cold, or weak

is general shaking especially tied to emotion fear or cold
trembly
vsatremble
1 4.4

Shaking slightly in the hands and voice because of fear or weakness

is broader and applies to shaking from emotion fear or cold
quivery
vsatremble
1 5.0

Shaking slightly because of strong feelings or weakness

is the general term stressing shaking from emotion fear or cold
shivery
vsatremble
1 6.0

Making you feel afraid or nervous

describes actual shaking from emotion fear or cold rather than causing fear
quavery
vsatremble
7.7

Shaky in the voice, often showing nervousness or strong feeling

refers to body shaking from emotion fear or cold rather than voice alone

Antonyms

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

steady
186 1.3

Firm and unlikely to be moved or upset

How Shaky

shaking
52 1.8
atremble
  • Archaic
9.8
trembling
1 2.7
unsteady
16 3.3
steady
186 1.3

Surface Forms

atremble positive

Morphology

atremble = tremble (semi-transparent) = a + tremble

Formally 'a-' + 'tremble' clearly indicates being in a trembling state, but the prefixed form is literary/archaic and the prefix 'a-' meaning 'in a state' may not be productive for many learners.

Etymology

Atremble comes from the old first part a- meaning 'in' and the familiar word tremble meaning 'to shake'. So atremble is like being 'in a shaking state', which is why it means 'shaking or trembling' from fear, cold, or strong feeling.