different between trepidation vs agitation

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin trepid?ti?, from trepid? (“be agitated”)

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /?t??p.??de?.??n/

Noun

trepidation (countable and uncountable, plural trepidations)

1. A fearful state; a state of concern or hesitation.

   Synonyms: agitation, apprehension, consternation, fear, hesitation, worry

   • 1929, M. Barnard Eldershaw, A House Is Built, Chapter VII, Section vi

     She opened the drawing-room door in trepidation. Would she find Esther drowned with her head in the goldfish bowl, or hanged from the chandelier by her stay-lace?
2. An involuntary trembling, sometimes an effect of paralysis, but usually caused by terror or fear; quaking; quivering.
3. (astronomy, obsolete) 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.

Related terms

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “trepidation”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• departition, partitioned

English

Etymology

From French agitation, from Latin agit?ti? (“movement, agitation”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ad????te??(?)n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /æ.d????te?.??n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

agitation (countable and uncountable, plural agitations)

1. The act of agitating, or the state of being agitated; the state of being disrupted with violence, or with irregular action; commotion.

2. A disturbance of personal tranquillity; disturbance of someone's peace of mind.

   Synonym: perturbation

3. Excitement of public feeling by discussion, appeals, etc.
   • 1856-1858, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip II

     […] religious agitations […]

4. (archaic) Examination or consideration of a subject in controversy, or of a plan proposed for adoption; earnest discussion; debate.
   • 1732, Jonathan Swift, The Advantages Proposed by Repealing the Sacramental Test

     […] the project now in agitation […]

Synonyms

• emotion, commotion, excitement, trepidation, tremor, perturbation

Translations

References

• agitation in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Danish

Noun

agitation c (singular definite agitationen, plural indefinite agitationer)

1. agitation

Declension

Further reading

• “agitation” in Den Danske Ordbog

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin agitatio. Surface analysis: agiter +? -ation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.?i.ta.sj??/

Noun

agitation f (plural agitations)

1. choppiness (of water), turbulence (in air), swaying (of branch etc.)
2. restlessness
3. bustle (of street, room etc.); activity
4. (nervous) agitation
5. (social) unrest

Descendants

• ? Romanian: agita?ie

Further reading

• “agitation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).