- Today's Word
Trepidation
[trep-i-DAY-shun]
Definition
- (noun) A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen. It describes a state of nervous uncertainty or apprehension about a future event or situation.
Example
As she approached the stage to give her first public speech, Sarah felt a sense of trepidation, her heart racing and palms sweating.
Fun Fact
The word “trepidation” comes from the Latin word “trepidare,” meaning “to tremble.” In medieval astronomy, it was used to describe a hypothetical oscillation of the heavens, believed to account for certain irregularities in the precession of the equinoxes. This astronomical use is now obsolete, but it shows how words can shift in meaning over time. Today, “trepidation” is primarily used to describe emotional states rather than celestial movements.
(adjective) Angry and bitter in manner or tone; filled with ill will and resentment that makes any resolution feel impossible.
The divorce proceedings were so acrimonious that the attorneys on both sides later said they’d never seen a settlement table that hostile — and both had been practicing for twenty years.