Library / English Dictionary

SHIVER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement

Synonyms:

shake; shiver; tremble

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("shiver" is a kind of...):

inborn reflex; innate reflex; instinctive reflex; physiological reaction; reflex; reflex action; reflex response; unconditioned reflex (an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus)

Derivation:

shiver (shake, as from cold)

shivery (cold enough to cause shivers)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An almost pleasurable sensation of fright

Example:

a frisson of surprise shot through him

Synonyms:

chill; frisson; quiver; shiver; shudder; thrill; tingle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("shiver" is a kind of...):

fear; fearfulness; fright (an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight))

Derivation:

shiver (tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement)

shivery (provoking fear terror)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Shake, as from cold

Example:

The children are shivering--turn on the heat!

Synonyms:

shiver; shudder

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "shiver" is one way to...):

move involuntarily; move reflexively (move in an uncontrolled manner)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

shiver (a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement)

shivering (a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement

Synonyms:

shiver; shudder; thrill; throb

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "shiver" is one way to...):

tremble (move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

shiver (an almost pleasurable sensation of fright)

Credits

 Context examples: 

My Tita would have been dragged away, and my head would have been shivered into a thousand fragments.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was this pride of Boy Jim’s which led to an adventure which makes me shiver now when I think of it.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It shivered in the chill morning wind, and grinned dispiritedly when the man spoke to it in a voice that achieved no more than a hoarse whisper.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

"When they scratched against the tin it made a cold shiver run down my back. What is that little animal you are so tender of?"

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Then the man went shivering with fear; and as he was going down to the shore a dreadful storm arose, so that the trees and the very rocks shook.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot coffee, for I observe that you are shivering.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Feverish with vain labour, I got up and took a turn in the room; undrew the curtain, noted a star or two, shivered with cold, and again crept to bed.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

They had strolled out on to the terrace again, and along it to the further end where at a touch from the Baron’s chauffeur the great car shivered and chuckled.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With drooping tail and shivering body, very forlorn indeed, he aimlessly circled the tent.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

The poor, dear lady shivered, and I could see the tension of her nerves as she clasped her husband closer to her and bent her head lower and lower still on his breast.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)