atwitter etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: atwitter (early 16th century)
  • Old English: atwitern (meaning "to tremble, flutter")
  • Proto-Germanic: atwitran ("to twitch, tremble")

Meaning:

  1. Nervous, flustered, or excited; in a state of agitation.
  2. (Archaic) Fluttering or quivering.

Origin:

The word "atwitter" is ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic root atwitran, which means "to twitch, tremble." The prefix "a-" indicates a state of being.

In Middle English, "atwitter" was used to describe trembling or fluttering movements. It was also used figuratively to refer to a state of nervousness or excitement.

Over time, the meaning of "atwitter" shifted to focus more on the figurative sense of being nervous, flustered, or excited. It is now commonly used to describe someone who is visibly or audibly agitated, either due to anxiety or anticipation.

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