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shiver

 - 8 dictionary results

shiv⋅er

1  [shiv-er]
Use shiver in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to shake or tremble with cold, fear, excitement, etc.
2. Nautical.
a. (of a fore-and-aft sail) to shake when too close to the wind.
b. (of a sailing vessel) to be headed so close to the wind that the sails shake.
–noun
3. a tremulous motion; a tremble or quiver: The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
4. shivers, an attack of shivering or chills (usually preceded by the).
Origin:
1150–1200; ME chivere (n.); later sh-, appar. for the sake of alliteration in phrase chiver and shake

Related forms:
shiv⋅er⋅er, noun
shiv⋅er⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. Shiver, quake, shudder refer to a vibratory muscular movement, a trembling, usually involuntary. We shiver with cold, or a sensation such as that of cold: to shiver in thin clothing on a frosty day; to shiver with pleasant anticipation. We quake esp. with fear: to quake with fright. We shudder with horror or abhorrence; the agitation is more powerful and deep-seated than shivering or trembling: to shudder at pictures of a concentration camp.

shiv⋅er

2  [shiv-er]
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1. to break or split into fragments.
–noun
2. a fragment; splinter.
Origin:
1150–1200; (n.) ME schivere fragment; c. G Schiefer schist; (v.) ME schiveren, deriv. of the n.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To shiver
shiv·er 1   (shĭv'ər)   
v.   shiv·ered, shiv·er·ing, shiv·ers

v.   intr.

  1. To shake with or as if with cold; tremble. See Synonyms at shake.

  2. To quiver or vibrate, as by the force of the wind.

v.   tr. Nautical
To cause (a sail) to flutter by sailing too close to the wind.
n.  

  1. An instance of shivering or trembling.

  2. shivers An attack of shivering. Used with the.


[Middle English chiveren, shiveren.]
shiv·er 2   (shĭv'ər)   
v.   shiv·ered, shiv·er·ing, shiv·ers

v.   intr.
To break into fragments or splinters; shatter.
v.   tr.
To cause to break suddenly into fragments or splinters.
n.  A fragment or splinter.

[Middle English shiveren, from shivere, splinter; see skei- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

shiver  (v.)
"shake," c.1400, alteration of chiveren (c.1200), of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.E. ceafl "jaw," on notion of chattering teeth. Spelling change of ch- to sh- is probably from influence of shake.

shiver  (n.)
"small piece," c.1205, probably related to M.L.G. schever, schiver "splinter," from P.Gmc. *skif- "split" (cf. O.H.G. skivaro, Ger. Schiefer "splinter, slate"). The verb, "to break in or into pieces" is attested from c.1200. Chiefly in phrases to shivers and shiver me timbers (1835), "a mock oath attributed in comic fiction to sailors" [OED]. My timbers! as a nautical oath is attested from 1789 (see timber). Also, shiver is still dial. for "splinter (n.)" in Norfolk and Lincolnshire.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1shiv·er
Pronunciation: 'shiv-&r
Function: intransitive verb
: to undergo trembling : experience rapid involuntarymuscular twitching especially in response to cold

Main Entry: 2shiver
Function: noun
: an instance of shivering
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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