English Explanatory Dictionary

shudder

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To shake nervously, often from fear or horror.
  2. To vibrate jerkily.
noun
  1. A shivering tremor, often from fear or horror.
  2. A moment of almost pleasurable fear; a frisson.

Pronunciation

/ˈʃʌdəː/ [ˈʃʰʌ̹dəː] /ˈʃʌdɚ/ [ˈʃʰʌ̈dɚ] ~ [ˈʃʰʌ̈dɹ̩] en-us-shudder.ogg /ˈʃʌɾɚ/ [ˈʃʰʌ̈ɾɚ] ~ [ˈʃʰʌ̈ɾɹ̩]

Word forms

shudder shudders shuddering shuddered

Etymology

From Middle English schoderen, from Middle Dutch schudderen and/or Middle Low German schodderen, iterative forms of the verb at hand in Dutch schudden, Low German schüdden (both “to shake”), German schütten (“to pour”), from Proto-Germanic *skudjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *skewdʰ-. From Low German are also borrowed German schaudern (“to shudder”), Danish skudre.

Synonyms

palpitate shiver shake quake flutter jiggle wiggle rumble quiver tingle thrill

Related words

judder

Derived words

shudderer shudderful shudderingly shuddersome shuddery unshuddering shudder quote
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