The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook

quaver

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Dictionary definition of quaver

A shake or tremble in a person's voice.
"The quaver in his voice betrayed his nervousness."

Detailed meaning of quaver

It is a slight vibrato or unsteadiness in the pitch of a person's speech or singing that can make the voice sound uncertain, nervous, or emotional. Quaver can be caused by a number of factors such as nervousness, emotional stress, physical conditions, or even medical conditions. It is often used to describe the speech or singing of someone who is nervous or emotional, such as in the phrase "her voice quavered with emotion" or "he spoke with a quaver in his voice." In literature, it can also be used as a literary device to convey the inner turmoil of a character or the uncertainty of a situation. The term can also be used to describe the slight trembling or shaking of any part of the body, such as in the phrase "her hand quavered with age" or "the building quavered in the earthquake".

A quaver is also a unit of musical time that is equal to one-eighth of a whole note. In music notation, a quaver is represented by a note that has a flag or a beam pointing upwards. It is a type of note that is used to indicate a very short duration of sound, and is often used in fast-paced or complex musical passages. The term can also be used as a verb to describe the act of singing or playing a note in a tremulous or unsteady manner, as in "her voice quavered" or "he quavered the last note".

Example sentences containing quaver

1. Her voice began to quaver as she recounted the harrowing experience.
2. The public speaker tried to hide the quaver in his voice, but it was evident.
3. Fear caused a noticeable quaver in her voice during the ghost story.
4. He couldn't control the quaver in his voice as he made the emotional announcement.
5. The singer's quaver added a raw, emotional edge to the song.
6. The actor's quaver conveyed the character's vulnerability on stage.

History and etymology of quaver

The noun 'quaver,' in the context of a shake or tremble in a person's voice, has its etymological roots in Middle English. It can be traced back to the Middle English word 'quaveren,' which meant to tremble or vibrate. This Middle English term likely originated from the Old English 'cwefan,' which meant to shake or move quickly. The word 'quaver' aptly captures the quivering or wavering quality of a person's voice when they are nervous, excited, or experiencing strong emotions. It reflects the onomatopoeic nature of language, where words often mimic the sounds or actions they describe, in this case, the trembling or quivering sound in one's voice.

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Further usage examples of quaver

1. A quaver in her voice betrayed her nervousness during the interview.
2. The teacher's quaver showed how much she cared about her students.
3. He tried to sound confident, but a quaver in his voice revealed his anxiety.
4. The news anchor's quaver mirrored the gravity of the breaking story.
5. His quaver betrayed the sadness he felt when talking about his lost pet.
6. The elderly man's voice had a gentle quaver that charmed everyone.
7. A quaver of excitement crept into her voice as she described the surprise.
8. The quaver in her voice hinted at the depth of her gratitude.
9. His voice held a quaver of anticipation as he proposed on one knee.
10. The quaver in the singer's voice created a hauntingly beautiful melody.
11. Her voice had a quaver that tugged at the heartstrings of the audience.
12. Despite her quaver, she spoke with unwavering determination.
13. The actor's quaver was so convincing that the audience was moved to tears.
14. A quaver of uncertainty colored his voice as he asked the important question.
15. The music sheet was filled with quavers and semiquavers.
16. She hit the quaver on the piano perfectly.
17. His singing was off-key, and his quavers were out of sync.
18. The bird's chirping had a distinct quaver to it.
19. The tremble in her hands caused a quaver in her handwriting.
20. The conductor asked the orchestra to play the quavers more lightly.
21. He added a quaver to the end of the note for emphasis.
22. The quaver of the engine indicated it needed to be serviced.
23. The singer's voice wavered on the quaver, adding emotion to the song.
24. The quaver of the leaves rustling in the wind created a soothing sound.