shudder

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an almost pleasurable sensation of fright
  2. noun an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
  3. verb shake, as from cold

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

frisson, shiver, chill, quiver, thrill, tingle

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