What are the meaning, origin and usage of the word twitch?

Twitch

The word twitch is used both as a verb and as a noun. The verb form corresponds to give or cause to give a short, sudden jerking or convulsive movement. The noun form, meanwhile, denotes a short, sudden jerking or convulsive movement.

Origin

The verb form of the word has been around since the late 12th Century. The word is derived from to-twic-chen, meaning “pull apart with a quick jerk,” which is related to Old English twiccian meaning “to pluck, gather, catch hold of” which in turn has a Proto-Germanic root. The noun form of the word has been in existence from the 1520s.

The word, which has seen steady usage through the centuries, saw an increased usage this century. The frequency of usage has been especially pronounced in the last decade or so, nearly doubling from before. This can be attributed to the popular American video live streaming service that shares the same name.

Usage

She tried to suppress her smile but felt a twitch in the corner of her mouth.

Picture Credit : Google

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