frisson

American  

[free-sohn, free-sawn] / friˈsõʊ̃, friˈsɔ̃ /

noun

plural

frissons

1. a sudden, passing sensation of excitement; a shudder of emotion; thrill.

   The movie offers the viewer the occasional frisson of seeing a character in mortal danger.

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frisson British  

/ frisɔ̃ /

noun

1. a shudder or shiver; thrill

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Etymology

Origin of frisson

First recorded in 1770–80; from French: “shiver, shudder,” Old French friçons (plural), from Late Latin frictiōnem, accusative of frictiō “shiver” (taken as derivative of frīgēre “to be cold”), from Latin: “massage, friction”; friction

Example Sentences

Again, this is presumably meant to add a frisson of topical ambiguity to the play’s happy ending.

From The Wall Street Journal

Indeed, the Maddens found a certain frisson from the get-go in writing about their rough-and-tumble upbringing with a squeaky-clean pop flair.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s the thing that gives the Epstein conspiracy theories their distinctly frothy frisson: a blending of vital ingredients, one very old and the other comparatively new.

From Los Angeles Times

A further frisson came from the sight of Mark Wood training with England at Lord's on Wednesday, stepping up his comeback from a knee injury.

From BBC

After six months out, the sight of Stokes marking out his run sent a frisson of excitement around Trent Bridge.

From BBC