shiver

¹

[shiv-er]

verb (used without object)

1. to shake or tremble with cold, fear, excitement, etc.

2. Nautical.

   1. (of a fore-and-aft sail) to shake when too close to the wind.

   2. (of a sailing vessel) to be headed so close to the wind that the sails shake.

noun

1. a tremulous motion; a tremble or quiver.

   The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

2. (the) shivers, an attack of shivering or chills.

shiver

²

[shiv-er]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to break or split into fragments.

noun

1. a fragment; splinter.

shiver

¹

/ ˈʃɪvə /

verb

1. to shake or tremble, as from cold or fear

2. 1. (of a sail) to luff; flap or shake

   2. (of a sailing vessel) to sail close enough to the wind to make the sails luff

noun

1. the act of shivering; a tremulous motion

2. an attack of shivering, esp through fear or illness

shiver

²

/ ˈʃɪvə /

verb

1. to break or cause to break into fragments

noun

1. a splintered piece

Other Word Forms

• shivering adjective
• shiverer noun
• shiveringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of shiver¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English noun chivere; later sh-, apparently for the sake of alliteration in phrase chiver and shake

Origin of shiver²

1150–1200; (noun) Middle English schivere fragment; cognate with German Schiefer schist; (v.) Middle English schiveren, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shiver¹

C13 chiveren, perhaps variant of chevelen to chatter (used of teeth), from Old English ceafl _jowl ¹

Origin of shiver²

C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German scivaro, Middle Dutch scheveren to shiver, Old Norse skīfa to split

Synonym Study

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 especially 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.

Example Sentences

Anyone can see that he means to do harm, but it’s the why, how and when that gives onlookers the shivers.

From Salon

But her condition spiralled with terrifying speed: uneasiness gave way to fever, fever to violent shivers, and on 5 September - the main day of the festival - Sobhana was dead.

From BBC

"You know those red lasers that come out of those guns? It was so shocking that some people were shivering in fear."

From BBC

But a crash in Florida and its aftermath have sent shivers through the Sikh trucking community that could have economic consequences.

From BBC

But Bay Area residents could be disappointed by the incoming sweater weather, after shivering through their coldest summer in decades.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flutter 
• quiver 
• shudder 
• vibrate