All Words > Frisson

illustration Frisson

Frisson

[frē-sahn]

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, late 18th century

1.

A sudden and intense feeling of excitement

2.

A shudder caused by a thrill

Examples of Frisson in a sentence

"I felt a giddy frisson when I got the big promotion."

"When the orchestra arrived at the gorgeous climax of the piece, many in the audience experienced a moment of frisson."

About Frisson

We might not know it by it's official name, but we've all experienced frisson — otherwise known as "getting the chills." It's most common when we listen to a particularly moving piece of music or see a beautiful work of art. Interestingly, the chills are often also associated with pupil dilation.

Did you Know?

Frisson doesn't just trace its origins back to French; it literally means "shiver" in French.

illustration Frisson

Recent Words

What's the word?