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

• shiverer noun
• shiveringly adverb
• shivering adjective

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

Woo begins shivering and holding on to Autumn’s ear, as if that’ll somehow keep her from disappearing.

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She shivered with pretend cold and wiggled her fingers downward through the air to indicate snow falling.

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“Yes, my lord,” Penelope replied, with a shiver of horror.

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He made a fierce, rapid munching sound with his teeth that made Penelope shiver.

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A shiver of recognition ran down her spine.

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Related Words

• flutter 
• quiver 
• shudder 
• vibrate