frisson

Plural: frissons

Noun

• A sudden, brief moment of excitement or fear; a shiver.
• an almost pleasurable sensation of fright
  • "a frisson of surprise shot through him"
• A sudden surge of excitement.
• A shiver; a thrill.

Examples

• A frisson of delight ran through him when he saw the Q on his rack with an open U.
• I felt a frisson just as they were about to announce the winner in my category.
• Whenever the villain's theme played in the movie I felt a sudden frisson down my back.

Synonyms

chill, quiver, shiver, shudder, thrill, tingle