scuotere

to shake

verb SKWOH-teh-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin excutere (to shake out), from ex- + quatere (to shake).

Also means

to jolt

Usage Note

Scuotere is an irregular verb; its past participle is scosso, not *scuotuto. It takes avere in compound tenses: ha scosso la testa (he shook his head). Figuratively it means to shock or stir deeply: la notizia lo ha scosso (the news shook him). The reflexive scuotersi means to rouse oneself.

Examples

"Ha scosso la testa in segno di diniego."

Natural Translation

He shook his head as a sign of refusal.

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