quaveryadj.
/ˈkweɪv(ə)ri/, U.S. /ˈkweɪv(ə)ri/ rare before 19th cent.
Shaky, trembling; tending to quaver.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > [adjective] > trembling or quivering
tremblinga1400
aspen?c1412
quavering?a1439
didderingc1440
wavering1488
quavery1519
quiveringa1547
warbling1549
tremble1568
quiverish1582
tremefacting1599
aguisha1602
tremulous1611
twittering1648
brandishing1658
micant1661
shivery1747
shivering1762
tremulating1813
dithing1818
dithering1821
quivery1833
tremulant1837
trembly1846
thrilling1850
trepidatory1881
shuddering1893
doddery1919
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > tremulous
trillinga1700
quavering1726
quaverous1852
wobbly1873
quavery1890
1519 W. Horman Vulgaria xxix. f. 240 A quauery or maris and vnstable foundacion, must be holpe with great pylys of alder, rammed downe.
1859 ‘J. Maurice’ K. N. Pepper 150 Methinks a voice, all thin and quavery, cracked, Steals down in whispers.
1866 M. E. Braddon Lady's Mile 35 Quavery old sextons.
1890 H. Caine Bondman iii. iv He began to sing..in his hoarse and quavery voice.
1922 Times 29 May 19/3 He was crossed with the right and sank down for a long count, and once again was saved only by the rather quavery tinkle of the gong.
1965 M. House & G. Storey Lett. C. Dickens I. 557 A quavery line is drawn under ‘Ill! He ill!’, and another under ‘Any time while the—’. The writing of the last three lines gets progressively more shaky.
1995 Independent 12 May 22/7 Curl up on the couch, make your voice go quavery and hope for the best.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1519