Quaver v.

Also 5 qwaver. [f. QUAVE v. + -ER.⁵. Cf. QUIVER v.]

  1.  intr. To vibrate, tremble, quiver. Now rare.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, VIII. viii. (1558), fol. vi. Whose double whele quauereth euer in dout.

1477.  Sir J. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 174. It semythe that the worlde is alle qwaveryng.

1590.  Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., I. iii. Their fingers made to quaver on a lute.

1629.  Gaule, Holy Madn., 206. Tongue stammers, lips quauer.

1692.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 571. The earthquake was so severe … that the streets quavered like the waves of the sea.

1839.  Bailey, Festus, ix. (1852), 125. Like rivers over reeds Which quaver in the current.

1887.  Stevenson, Misadv. J. Nicholson, ii. 4. The breeze … set the flames of the street-lamps quavering.

  b.  Of the voice: To shake, tremble.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela, II. 43. That melodious Voice praying for me … still hangs upon my Ears, and quavers upon my Memory.

1825.  J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, I. 401. His fine voice quavered.

1866.  G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., i. (1878), 2. When my voice quavers.

  2.  intr. To use trills or shakes in singing.

1538.  Elyot, Vibrisso, To quauer in syngynge.

a. 1592.  H. Smith, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. cxxxvi. 1. Like a nightingale, which … quavers and capers, and trebles upon it.

1665.  Brathwait, Comm. Two Tales, 23. He quavers in his musical Aires melodiously.

1684.  trans. Agrippa’s Van. Arts, liv. 147. In Singing also the Italians Bleat, the Spaniards Whine, the Germans Howl, and the French Quaver.

1708.  J. Philips, Cyder, ii. 413. Now sportive Youth Carol incondite Rhythms with suiting Notes, And quaver unharmonious.

1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), V. xii. One poor singer quavering like Orpheus of old to the trees.

1854.  H. Miller, Sch. & Schm. (1858), 403. Jock laboured hard to keep up with his guide; quavering and semi-quavering, as his breath served.

  3.  trans. To sing (a note, song, etc.) with trills or quavers. Also with forth, out.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 78/43. To Quauer a note, vibrare.

1596.  Drayton, Legends, i. 43. The Larke … Quaver’d her cleare Notes in the quiet Ayre.

1651.  Cleveland, Poems, 49. Can a groan Be quaver’d out by soft division?

1757.  Dyer, Fleece (1807), 94. Th’ am’rous youth … Quavers the choicest of his sonnets.

1820.  W. Irving, Sketch Bk. (1859), 150. He quavered forth a quaint old ditty.

1856.  R. W. Procter, Barber’s Shop, xiv. (1883), 118. The song which Jack … liked most to quaver was Alice Gray.

  4.  trans. To drive away by playing quavers.

1780.  Cowper, Progr. Err., 127. With wire and catgut … Quavering and semiquavering care away.

  Hence Quavered ppl. a. Also Quaverer, one who quavers.

1611.  Cotgr., Gringuenoteur, A warbler, shaker, quauerer.

1762.  Sir W. Jones, Arcadia, 164. His tune so various and uncouth he made, That … not a nymph [could] the quaver’d notes approve.

1802.  in Spirit Pub. Jrnls., VI. 222.