Trepidation
trep-uh-DAY-shun
Definition
(noun) A feeling of fear, anxiety, or unease about something that may happen.
Example
She approached the stage with trepidation, unsure if her words would come out right.
Word Origin
From Latin trepidare, meaning “to tremble.”
Fun Fact
Before it described emotional unease, trepidation once referred to physical trembling or agitation—even celestial motion. In early astronomy, “trepidation of the spheres” described the slight wobble in the heavens. Over time, the word shifted inward, from cosmic tremors to human nerves. Today, it captures that universal feeling before big moments—an interview, a confession, or a leap into the unknown—when your heart races just ahead of your courage.