Trĕp′i-dā′tion, n.

n. [Fr. trép idation, Sp. trepidacion, It. trepidazione, Lat. trepidatio, from trepidare, to hurry with alarm, to tremble, from trepidus, trembling.]

1. An involuntary trembling, sometimes an effect of paralysis, but usually caused by terror or fear; hence, a state of terror; as, the men were in great trepidation.
2. (Anc. Astron.) A libration of the starry sphere in the Ptolemaic system; a motion ascribed to the firmament, to account for certain small changes in the position of the ecliptic and of the stars.
3. Hurry; confused haste. [Rare.]

Syn.—Tremor; agitation; disturbance; emotion; fear.