quiver

To quiver is to shake with very small, quick movements. This often happens because of fear, cold, strong feeling, pain, weakness, or excitement. A voice can quiver during an emotional moment, hands can quiver from nerves, and something light or soft can quiver when it is touched or moved. You might say, "Her voice quivered as she spoke," or "The jelly quivered on the plate."

The word is often used when the movement is slight but easy to notice. It suggests more than simple motion. It often hints at what someone is feeling inside. A quivering lip may show that someone is about to cry. Quivering hands may show anxiety, illness, or strain. In stories, the word is useful because it lets a small physical detail reveal emotion without stating it directly.

Quiver also has a separate noun meaning. A quiver is the container an archer carries for arrows. That meaning is common in stories about hunting, battle, or archery. So the word can point either to a light tremble or to a piece of archery equipment, but in everyday English, the verb meaning is much more common.