ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shiver

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈʃɪvɝ// UK //ʃˈɪvɐ// shiv·er Archaic Dialect

v. to shake slightly because you are cold, afraid, or excited. It is a quick movement your body makes that you cannot control.

v. to shake or tremble involuntarily, typically as a physiological response to low temperature or strong emotion. Often used to describe the physical manifestation of fear or anticipation.


SIMPLE

The cold wind made me shiver.

CONTEXTUAL

The children began to shiver as they waited for the school bus in the snow.

COMPLEX

Even under the thick wool blankets, he continued to shiver from the fever that had gripped him since the previous evening.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

Origin uncertain, perhaps an alteration of chavel, or a frequentive of sheaf.

Etymology 2

From a Germanic word, probably present in Old English though unattested, cognate with Old High German scivaro (German Schiefer (“slate”)).

Etymology 3

Origin uncertain

Usage

The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

Idioms1 entry

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