Word of the Day

: August 21, 2008

trepidation

noun trep-uh-DAY-shun

What It Means

: timorous uncertain agitation : apprehension

trepidation in Context

As she boarded the plane for her first flight, Corrine felt a mixture of trepidation and excitement.

Did You Know?

If you've ever trembled with fright, you know something of both the sensation and etymology of "trepidation." The word "trepidation" comes from the Latin verb "trepidare," which means "to tremble." When "trepidation" first appeared in English in the early 1600s, it meant "tremulous motion" or "tremor." Around the same time, English speakers also started using the "nervous agitation" sense of "trepidation" that we use today.