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shivering - 5 dictionary results

shiv⋅er

1[shiv-er]
–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


shiv⋅er⋅er, noun
shiv⋅er⋅ing⋅ly, adverb


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.
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.]

Main Entry: shivering
Function: noun
1 : an act or action of one that shivers
2 : a constant abnormal twitching of various muscles in thehorse that is prob. due to sensory nerve derangement
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