trepidatory

Adjective

trepidatory (comparative more trepidatory, superlative most trepidatory)

1. That trepidates, or that causes trepidations.
   • Unfortunately, like Guthrie he has never given a formal statement of his principles, and it is therefore up to the reader to ferret out these things for himself — always a trepidatory procedure.1953, Charles Egerton Osgood, Method and Theory in Experimental Psychology
   • This was all very good news for the Church bishops because the shapeshifting werewolf had a limited trepidatory function, especially in places like England where wolves were generally unknown, although some existed then to the north in Scotland.2003, Laurence Gardner, Realm of the Ring Lords
2. Of an earthquake, having a vertical, up-and-down motion, as opposed to a horizontal, side-to-side motion.
   • This [earthquake] was felt at Mexico at precisely the same hour, lasting there about one minute and a half, the motion there being undulatory, but at Acapulco trepidatory.1843, Captin Sir Edward Belcher RN, Narrative of a Voyage Round the World
   • The most severe shock lasted for 70 seconds, and combined oscillatory, trepidatory, and rotatory movement.1882, Knowledge, volume 1