Shiver

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shiver¹

  • /ˈʃɪvɚ/ US
  • /ˈʃɪvə/ UK

Sounds like shiva (non-rhotic) · Rhymes with -ɪvə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

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

verb shivers · shivering · shivered

  1. To tremble or shake, especially when cold or frightened. They stood outside for hours, shivering in the frosty air.
  2. transitive To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to the wind.

noun shivers

  1. The act of shivering. A shiver went up my spine.
  2. A bodily response to early hypothermia.

shiver²

  • /ˈʃɪvɚ/ US
  • /ˈʃɪvə/ UK

Sounds like shiva (non-rhotic) · Rhymes with -ɪvə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

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

noun shivers

  1. A fragment or splinter, especially of glass or stone.
  2. Norfolk A splinter of wood embedded in the flesh
  3. UK, dialectal, obsolete A thin slice; a shive. a shiver of their own loaf
  4. A variety of blue slate.
  5. A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
  6. A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.
  7. UK, dialectal, obsolete A spindle.

verb shivers · shivering · shivered

  1. transitive To break into splinters or fragments. The man, O Muse, inform, that many a way / Wound with his wisdom to his wished stay; / That wandered wondrous far, when he the town / Of sacred Troy had sack'd and shivered down; […]
  2. intransitive To be broken into splinters or fragments. The dirty clay pipe dropped from the tremulous hand, and shivered against the iron fender, but the old man made no effort to find a fresh one; […]

shiver³

  • /ˈʃɪvɚ/ US
  • /ˈʃɪvə/ UK

Sounds like shiva (non-rhotic) · Rhymes with -ɪvə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

Origin uncertain

noun shivers

  1. collective A group of sharks. 'Don't you remember?" she said. 'One was off the bow, another alongside, yet another off the stern. A shiver of sharks.'

Shiver⁴

proper noun Shivers

  1. A surname.

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