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Quailing Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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quailing

[ˈkwāl ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

fearful response

Quailing refers to the act of feeling or showing fear or apprehension. This term is often used to describe someone who is shrinking back or trembling in fright. It implies a sense of weakness or cowardice when faced with danger or intimidation. The word can convey a vivid image of someone who is overwhelmed by fear and is unable to stand firm in a challenging situation.

Synonyms

cower, flinch, shrink, tremble.

Examples of usage

  • He was quailing at the sight of the huge spider.
  • The soldiers were quailing in fear as the battle approached.
  • She stood tall, refusing to quail before her critics.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Literature

  • Quailing often appears in literature to describe characters reacting to fear, like in Gothic novels.
  • In Shakespearean plays, characters frequently quail under the pressure of impending doom or guilt.
  • The term is used in poetry to evoke vivid images of fear and vulnerability.

Psychology

  • Quailing can be linked to the body's fight-or-flight response when facing danger.
  • Experiencing quailing could lead to physical reactions, such as trembling or a racing heart.
  • It's a common emotional response when people confront their fears or uncertainties.

Pop Culture

  • In movies, characters often quail when facing villains or supernatural events, heightening the tension.
  • The term is sometimes used humorously in sitcoms, where characters dramatically overreact to minor challenges.
  • Quailing has become a metaphor in popular culture for expressing exaggerated fear in various situations.

History

  • The concept of quailing was often linked to early survival instincts in humans, crucial for avoiding predators.
  • In medieval times, people who quailed in fear were sometimes perceived as weak, reflecting societal attitudes towards courage.
  • Historical texts reveal how leaders would quail in fear during battles, impacting their decisions.

Origin of 'quailing'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'quail' comes from the Middle English 'quailen,' meaning to lose courage or to cower.
  • It's related to the Old French 'coeillir,' which means 'to recoil' or 'to withdraw.'
  • Originally, it described the action of a small bird fluttering away in fear.

The word 'quail' comes from the Middle English 'quailen,' which is a derivative of the Old French 'coailler,' meaning 'to cower'. The Latin origin is 'coagulare,' which means 'to curdle' or 'to congeal', indicating a sense of becoming less firm or more frightened. Over time, its usage expanded to include a broader emotional response to fear and apprehension. In the 14th century, it was often used to describe the behavior of those who were overwhelmed by fear in various contexts, from personal confrontations to larger, societal challenges. In literature, this term is frequently utilized to illustrate the human response to fear, showcasing a very visceral emotional state.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,365, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.