Quailing: meaning, definitions and examples
๐จ
quailing
[ หkwฤl ]
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
Translations of the word "quailing" in other languages:
๐ต๐น tremendo
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคพเคเคชเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช zitternd
๐ฎ๐ฉ gemetar
๐บ๐ฆ ััะตะผััะฝะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ drลผenie
๐ฏ๐ต ้ใใ
๐ซ๐ท tremblant
๐ช๐ธ temblor
๐น๐ท titreme
๐ฐ๐ท ๋จ๋ฆผ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงูุชุฒุงุฒ
๐จ๐ฟ tลesoucรญ
๐ธ๐ฐ trasรบci
๐จ๐ณ ้ขคๆ
๐ธ๐ฎ trepetajoฤ
๐ฎ๐ธ titring
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะดัััะปะดะตั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแฌแงแแแขแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ titrษmษ
๐ฒ๐ฝ temblando
Etymology
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.
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- 39362 enjambment
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- 39364 chirruping
- 39365 quailing
- 39366 lasciviously
- 39367 gruesomely
- 39368 inscrutably
- ...