Palpitates

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To undergo a quick or irregular heart rhythm while also causing a sensation of trembling in the chest, as well as displaying an oscillating motion due to heightened emotional states
2. To manifest a fast or erratic heart activity, which may provoke a feeling of fluttering in the chest and also indicate trembling or movement in response to significant emotions
3. To experience a heart beating quickly or unevenly, often causing a noticeable fluttering sensation in the chest

Etymology: "Palpitates" is the third-person singular form of "palpitate", so it is the form of the verb used with "he", "she" or "it". The verb itself was borrowed from Latin "palpitō", meaning to throb or pulsate, and Latin used the word for a heart beating as well as for other trembling or twitching motions. English took over both the physical sense and the sense of quivering with strong feeling. The Latin verb is itself a frequentative form, built on the root "palpare", meaning to stroke or touch gently. The repeated, rapid motion of the heart apparently suggested that older idea of repeated touching or patting, so the "palpitating" heart is, in a sense, a heart that keeps tapping against the chest wall.

Synonyms: pulsates, throbs, beats, quivers, trembles