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Flinch vs Quiver - What's the difference?

flinch | quiver |

As nouns the difference between flinch and quiver

is that flinch is a reflexive jerking away while quiver is (weaponry) a container for arrows, crossbow bolts or darts, such as those fired from a bow, crossbow or blowgun.

As verbs the difference between flinch and quiver

is that flinch is to make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus while quiver is to shake or move with slight and tremulous motion; to tremble; to quake; to shudder; to shiver.

As an adjective quiver is

(archaic) nimble, active.

flinch

English

Noun

(es)
  • A reflexive jerking away.
    • My eye doctor hates the flinch I have every time he tries to get near my eyes.

    Verb

  • To make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus.
  • * John Locke
    • A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining.
  • To dodge (a question), to avoid an unpleasant task or duty
  • To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

    • References

    quiver

    English

    (wikipedia quiver)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) quiver, from (etyl) quiveir, from (etyl) ).Wolfgang Pfeifer, ed., ''Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen , s.v. “Köcher” (Munich: Deutscher Taschenbucher Vertrag, 2005). Replaced early modern (etyl) cocker. More at (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (weaponry) A container for arrows, crossbow bolts or darts, such as those fired from a bow, crossbow or blowgun.
  • * 1598 , William Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing , Act I, Scene I, line 271:
    • Don Pedro: Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly.
  • * 1786 , Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons , page 39:
    • Arrows were carried in quiver , called also an arrow case, which served for the magazine, arrows for immediate use were worn in the girdle.
  • (figuratively) A ready storage location for figurative tools or weapons.
    • He's got lots of sales pitches in his quiver .
  • (obsolete)
  • Shaking or moving with a slight trembling motion.
  • (mathematics) A multidigraph.

    • References

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) , from (etyl) *cwifer

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (archaic) Nimble, active.
  • * 1598 , William Shakespeare, Henry V, Part II , Act III, Scene II, line 281:
    • there was a little quiver fellow, and 'a would manage you his piece thus; and 'a would about and about, and come you in and come you in.

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) quiveren, probably from the adjective.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shake or move with slight and tremulous motion; to tremble; to quake; to shudder; to shiver.
  • * 1593 , William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus , Act II, Scene III, line 12:
    • The birds chaunt melody on every bush, / The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun, / The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind / And make a checker'd shadow on the ground.
  • * Addison
    • And left the limbs still quivering on the ground.