quave

v. i. To quaver. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Quagmire. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Quavered p. pr. & vb. n. Quavering. ] [ OE. quaven to shake, to tremble; cf. LG. quabbeln to shake, to be soft, of fat substances, quabbe a fat lump of flesh, a dewlap, D. kwabbe, and E. quiver, v. ] 1. To tremble; to vibrate; to shake. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Especially, to shake the voice; to utter or form sound with rapid or tremulous vibrations, as in singing; also, to trill on a musical instrument [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To utter with quavers. [ 1913 Webster ]

We shall hear her quavering them . . . to some sprightly airs of the opera. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A shake, or rapid and tremulous vibration, of the voice, or of an instrument of music. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) An eighth note. See Eighth. [ 1913 Webster ]