A strong physical or emotional trembling, often from fear, cold, or intense excitement. Literary and somewhat dramatic; in everyday speech 震え (ふるえ) is more common.
A shudder ran through my whole body from fear.
Hearing the news, he couldn't hide his trembling.
Rare kanji form; 慄 suggests trembling from fear or awe.
Derived from the verb おののく (to tremble, shudder). The exact origin of おののく is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese word.