Forms: 5 quyuer, 6 quyver, 6–7 quiuer, 4– quiver. [Prob. onomatopæic: cf. QUIVER a. and the vbs. QUAVE, QUAVER.
The existence of an obs. Du. kuyveren, given by Kilian as meaning ‘to quiver,’ is not otherwise authenticated.]
1. intr. To shake, tremble, or vibrate, with a slight but rapid agitation. (Said of persons, esp. under the influence of some emotion, of things, light, etc.)
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxvii. 103. Dido quyuered & shoke of grete rage.
1530. Palsgr., 677/2. The poore boye quivereth for colde.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 73. Scant had I thus spoken, when seats al quiuered about vs.
1620. Middleton, Chaste Maid, I. i. 118. A brave court-spirit makes our virgins quiver.
1670. Eachard, Cont. Clergy, 55. Do you not perceive the Gold to be in a dismal fear, to curl and quiver at the first reading of these words.
1713. Addison, Cato, III. ii. O’er the dying lamp th’ unsteady flame Hangs quivering.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 205, ¶ 1. The gales quivered among the branches.
1798. Wordsw., Peter Bell, II. i. Upon the stream the moonbeams quiver.
1853. Maurice, Proph. & Kings, xxi. 376. This … made his lips quiver and his hands tremble.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), III. xii. 243. His hand trembled and his flesh quivered.
fig. 1840. Alison, Europe (1849–53), VIII. l. § 44. 267. The contest was quivering in the balance.
1861. Thackeray, Four Georges, II. (1862), 86. Scorn and hate quivering in his smile.
1874. S. Cox, Pilgr. Ps., vii. 133. The darkness … quivers on this night with a nameless horror.
2. trans. To cause to vibrate or tremble.
1599. Minsheu, Span. Dict., Blandéar, to brandish or quiuer a sword.
1789. J. White, Earl Strongbow, II. 146. He had a way of quivering his head and turning up his nose.
1804. Grahame, Sabbath, 288. The lark … quivers the wing With more than wonted joy.
1898. R. Kearton, Wild Life at Home, 53. He then began to quiver his drooping wings.
b. To produce in or by quivering. rare–1.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., IV. iv. 102. The mad air quivered Unutterable music.
Hence Quiverante (after andante), Quiveration. nonce-wds. Also Quiverer; Quiverish a.; Quivery a. (rare).
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xvii. (1887), 77. Wrastling … is daungerous to be delt with in agues, as to vehement and conspiring with the quiuerer.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 71. With a quiuerish horror.
1775. Sheridan, Rivals, II. i. Such a mistress of flat and sharp, squallante, rumblante, and quiverante!
1812. J. Adams, Wks. (1856), X. 16. My health is … good, excepting a quiveration of the hands…. Excuse the word quiveration, which … I borrowed from an Irish boy.
1877. Daily News, 11 June, 5/5. Like a dreamland that trembles in the quivery air.
