Quake

(kwāk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. QUAKED (kwāk't); p. pr. & vb. n. QUAKING.] [A-S. cwacian, Prov. Ger. quacken, N. H. Ger. quackeln, D. kwakkelen, Dan. quake, Sw. quackla, to shake, to waver, to be irresolute.] 1. To tremble; to be agitated with quick, short motions continually repeated; to shake with fear, cold, or emotion; to shudder. She stood quaking like the partridge on which the hawk is ready to seize. Sidney. 2. To shake or tremble, either from not being solid, as soft, wet land, or from violent convulsion of any kind; as, the earth quakes; the mountains quake. “Over quaking bogs, and up precipitous ascents.” Macaulay. Syn.—To shake; vibrate; tremble; quiver; shudder.

[A-S. cwoccan, to move, shake. See supra.] To frighten; to throw into agitation. [Obs.] Shak.