adjective
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suffering from fever, esp a slight fever
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in a state of restless excitement
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of, relating to, caused by, or causing fever
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of feverish
First recorded in 1350–1400, feverish is from the Middle English word feverisch. See fever, -ish 1
Explanation
If you're feverish, your body temperature is higher than normal, usually because you're sick. Getting the flu makes most people feverish. Feeling feverish is sometimes the first sign that you're coming down with an illness. Feverish symptoms include aches and chills. Another way to be feverish is to be full of excitement or turmoil. A room full of wound-up kids at a birthday party often crackles with their feverish energy. In the 14th century, something feverish caused a fever — it wasn't until the 17th century that the word gained its current meanings.
Vocabulary lists containing feverish
"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
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The Suffix -ish, Part 3
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Kira-Kira
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Feverish and vomiting the day of her baby shower, the 18-year-old had gone to two different emergency rooms within 12 hours, returning home each time worse than before.
From Salon • Nov. 1, 2024
Feverish and at times fantastical speculation has swirled about the princess’s condition during her absence.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 19, 2024
There are some strained theories out there in the Feverish Wandavision Speculationverse that it’s a reference to a Cliff Randall from the comics.
From Slate • Mar. 5, 2021
Feverish and popping paracetamol pills as he hunches over a mound of case notes on his desk, Dr Pietro Bartolo, 60, doesn't look too heroic this morning.
From BBC • Oct. 28, 2016
Feverish moths of various sizes batted against us before launching themselves at the lamps again and again.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
