quaver

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   in British musical terminology, a note with half the time value of a crotchet; an eighth note

   The melody opens with four quick quavers followed by a sustained note.

2. 2
   noun

   a slight tremble or wavering in a person's voice

   A nervous quaver entered his voice when the questions became more pointed.

3. 3
   verb

   to speak, sing, or sound with an unsteady, trembling voice

   Her voice quavered as she read the final lines of the letter.

Simplified etymology

Quaver is recorded from the late Middle Ages and belongs to a group of words connected with shaking or trembling, including quake and quiver, that probably have a Germanic origin.

From Middle English quaveren ('to tremble'), a frequentative form of quaven ('to shake or tremble'). The musical noun developed from the idea of a tremulous sound; in modern British notation it names what American English calls an eighth note.

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary