Estremecer is a verb.
/estɾe.meˈθeɾ/ (Spain)
/estɾe.meˈseɾ/ (Latin America)
Estremecer refers to the act of shaking or causing something or someone to tremble, often due to fear, excitement, or a strong emotional response. This verb can be used in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
It is commonly used in oral as well as written forms, although it may appear more frequently in literary or expressive contexts due to its emotional connotation.
The word is used fairly often and can be found in various forms of literature, music, and everyday speech.
The news of his arrival managed to shake the entire community.
La tragedia la estremeció hasta los huesos.
The tragedy shook her to the bones.
La música del violonchelo estremeció a todos los presentes.
The term estremecer can be part of various idiomatic expressions in Spanish. Here are a few examples:
The new law shook the foundations of current politics.
Estremecer el corazón
"La carta que recibió estremeció su corazón."
The letter he received shook his heart.
Estremecer la tierra
"El terremoto estremeció la tierra durante varios segundos."
The earthquake shook the earth for several seconds.
Estremecer de miedo
"Aquel pueblo estremecía de miedo cada vez que escuchaba un trueno."
That village trembled with fear every time they heard thunder.
Estremecer los cimientos
"El escándalo de corrupción estremeció los cimientos de la administración pública."
The corruption scandal shook the foundations of public administration.
Estremecer la conciencia
"Las injusticias sociales deben estremecer nuestra conciencia."
Estremecer comes from the Latin verb extremescere, which means 'to tremble' or 'to shake.' The prefix "ex-" conveys an idea of outward movement or intensity, while "-mecer" relates to moving or shaking.
Synonyms: - Sacudir (to shake) - Temblar (to tremble) - Conmover (to move emotionally)
Antonyms: - Estabilizar (to stabilize) - Calmar (to calm) - Serenar (to soothe)