What does quaverer mean?
A quaverer is a person whose voice or speech shakes or wavers, especially during singing or a formal spoken performance. The word most often suggests nervousness or lack of vocal control, although it can also describe a naturally unsteady or tremulous voice. “Quaverer” is less common than the related verb “quaver” and is primarily used when the speaker or singer is the focus of attention. For example, a soloist may be called a quaverer if fear causes the voice to tremble. The term is not usually used for the trembling of an object or for a general feeling of anxiety; “trembler” may serve as a broader synonym. Though the word sounds old-fashioned, it remains intelligible and occasionally appears in discussions of singing, vocal performance, music, and stage fright.
nounA person who quavers, especially one whose voice shakes or wavers, as when singing or speaking nervously.
- A person who quavers, especially someone whose voice shakes or wavers while singing or speaking.
"The young singer was such a quaverer that the conductor encouraged her to take a deep breath before the solo."
"Even the most accomplished performers can become quaverers when the stakes are high."
"His nerves made him a quaverer, and the first notes of his recitation trembled."
The regular plural adds “-s” to the agentive noun.
"Several nervous quaverers waited backstage before the concert began."
A quaverer is not the wavering sound itself, but the person whose voice or delivery gives it away.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quaverer come from?
“Quaverer” was formed in English by adding the agentive suffix “-er” to “quaver,” an earlier word for wavering or producing a trembling, unsteady voice. The suffix identifies the person who performs the action: the one who quavers. “Quavery,” in the sense of shaky or trembling, continues to share the same verbal root.
Related word forms
How quaverer is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon word, used chiefly for a singer or speaker whose voice wavers or trembles. It may describe performance anxiety as well as an unsteady voice.