shiver 1
— shiverer , n. — shiveringly , adv.
/shiv"euhr/ , v.i.
1. to shake or tremble with cold, fear, excitement, etc.
2. Naut.
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.
n.
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 ).
[ 1150-1200; ME chivere (n.); later sh-, appar. for the sake of alliteration in phrase chiver and shake ]
Syn. 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.
shiver 2
/shiv"euhr/ , v.t. , v.i.
1. to break or split into fragments.
n.
2. a fragment; splinter.
[ 1150-1200; (n.) ME schivere fragment; c. G Schiefer schist; (v.) ME schiveren, deriv. of the n. ]