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 break or cause to break into fragments

noun

1. a splintered piece

shiver

²

/ 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. the shivers
   an attack of shivering, esp through fear or illness

Derived Forms

• ˈshivering, adjective
• ˈshiverer, noun

Other Words From

• shiver·er noun
• shiver·ing·ly adverb

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: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German scivaro, Middle Dutch scheveren to shiver, Old Norse skīfa to split

Origin of shiver²

C13 chiveren, perhaps variant of chevelen to chatter (used of teeth), from Old English ceafl jowl ¹

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

Times Square: New Yorkers gather here each New Year’s Eve to shiver, hear Anderson Cooper filibuster and distract themselves from the fact that the Yankees haven’t won a World Series in 15 years and the Mets haven’t won one in this century.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’ll hold onto that memory forever and ever,” Reynolds said with a shiver in his voice.

From Los Angeles Times

A shiver of excitement ran through her.

From Los Angeles Times

It sent a shiver right up my spine – and the horror of the potential consequences of this act started to sink in.

From BBC

“Even though he should’ve,” she says, with a glare that makes me shiver.

From Literature

Related Words

• flutter
• quiver
• shudder
• vibrate