Trepidation
Pronunciation : Trep`i*da"tion
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [F. tr?pidation, L. trepidatio, fr. trepidare to hurry with alarm, to tremble, from trepidus agitated, disturbed, alarmed; cf. trepit he turns, Gr. torture.]
Definition : 1. An involuntary trembling, sometimes an effect of paralysis, but usually caused by terror or fear; quaking; quivering.
2. Hence, a state of terror or alarm; fear; confusion; fright; as, the men were in great trepidation.
3. (Anc. Astron.)
Defn: A libration of the starry sphere in the Ptolemaic system; a motion ascribed to the firmament, to account for certain small changes in the position of the ecliptic and of the stars.
Syn. -- Tremor; agitation; disturbance; fear.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913