Shake

v. t. [imp. SHOOK; p. p. SHAKEN; p. pr. & vb. n. SHAKING.] [A-S. scæcan, sceacan, Icel. & Sw. skaka; O. Sax. scacan, to depart, flee, A-S. ofscacan, to escape; D. schokken, to shake, to jolt.]

1Sense 1. To cause to move with quick vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to make to tremble or shiver; to agitate. “As a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” Rev. vi. 13.

The rapid wheels shake heaven’s basis. Milton.

2Sense 2. To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of; to endanger; to threaten to overthrow.

When his doctrines grew too strong to be shook by his enemies, they persecuted his reputation. Atterbury.

3Sense 3. To cause to waver; to impair the resolution of; to depress the courage of.

Not my firm faith Can by his fraud be shaken or deceived. Milton.

4Sense 4. To give a tremulous note to; to trill; as, to shake a note in music.

5Sense 5. To move or remove by agitating; to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion; to rid one’s self of; — generally with an adverb, as off, out, &c.

Shake off the golden slumber of repose. Shak.

’Tis our first intent To shake all cares and business from our age. Shak.

To shake hands with. (a.) To unite with; to agree or contract with. (b.) To take leave of, from the practice of shaking hands at meeting and parting. Shak. K. Charles.

v. i. To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; to tremble; to shiver; to quake; to totter.

Under his burning wheels The steadfast empyrean shook throughout, All but the throne itself of God. Milton.