Shudderings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Experiencing shivers or tremors, often as a reaction to fear or disgust
2. Exhibiting involuntary movements of the body, usually associated with a strong emotional response
3. Producing a series of vibrations or quivers, typically as a reflection of anxiety or intense sensation

Etymology: "Shudderings" is simply the plural of "shuddering," the noun formed from the verb "shudder." The plural form is less common than the singular, but it works where a reader wants to point to several separate bouts of trembling rather than one general state, as in describing a series of quivers that pass through a body or a room. Because it is an inflected form, its story is essentially that of its base. "Shudder" is an old word in English, traceable to Middle English, and it came to describe a brief, involuntary tremor, the kind produced by cold, fear, or disgust. The noun "shuddering" is the form that names that action itself, and the plural "shudderings" treats each separate episode as countable.

Synonyms: tremors, quivers, shivers, jolts, vibrations