Definitions
respectful; horrified; to raise (one's shoulders); to stand on tiptoe; to crane
Etymology
About
The character 竦 is a phono-semantic compound formed by combining the radical 立 (lì) 'to stand' on the left, which gives the semantic category of posture or physical stance, with the component 束 (shù) on the right, which functions as the phonetic element. Originally, 竦 meant to stand on tiptoe or stretch oneself upward, a physical action clearly associated with the standing radical. Over time, its meaning expanded to encompass the psychological states that provoke such a posture, feelings of awe, reverence, or terror that make a person stand stiffly or respectfully. Thus, the character links a physical action with the emotional response that causes it.
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