Trepidation, n.
Etymology: [F. trépidation, L. trepidatio, fr. trepidare to hurry with alarm, to tremble, from trepidus agitated, disturbed, alarmed; cf. trepit he turns, Gr. torture.]
1. An involuntary trembling, sometimes an effect of paralysis, but usually caused by terror or fear; quaking; quivering.
2. Hence, a state of terror or alarm; fear; confusion; fright; as, the men were in great trepidation.
3. (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.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Tremor; agitation; disturbance; fear.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for trepidation; he lists it under fear.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.