Also means
to flinch
Usage Note
Tressaillir describes an involuntary physical jolt — from fear, surprise, cold, or strong emotion. It is more literary than the everyday frissonner (to shiver) and often appears in narrative prose. The past participle is tressailli, and it conjugates as an irregular verb.
Examples
"Elle a tressailli en entendant le coup de tonnerre."
Natural Translation
She shuddered when she heard the thunderclap.
Literal Translation
She has shuddered on hearing the clap of thunder
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