Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Shiver?

\Shiv"er\, n. [OE. schivere, fr. shive; cf. G. schifer a splinter, slate, OHG. scivere a splinter, Dan. & Sw. skifer a slate. See {Shive}, and cf. {Skever}.] 1. One of the small pieces, or splinters, into which a brittle thing is broken by sudden violence; -- generally used in the plural. ``All to shivers dashed.'' --Milton. 2. A thin slice; a shive. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] ``A shiver of their own loaf.'' --Fuller. Of your soft bread, not but a shiver. --Chaucer. 3. (Geol.) A variety of blue slate. 4. (Naut.) A sheave or small wheel in a pulley. 5. A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter. 6. A spindle. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
\Shiv"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shivered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shivering}.] [OE. schiveren, scheveren; cf. OD. scheveren. See {Shiver} a fragment.] To break into many small pieces, or splinters; to shatter; to dash to pieces by a blow; as, to shiver a glass goblet. All the ground With shivered armor strown. --Milton.
\Shiv"er\, v. i. To separate suddenly into many small pieces or parts; to be shattered. There shiver shafts upon shields thick. --Chaucer The natural world, should gravity once cease, . . . would instantly shiver into millions of atoms. --Woodward.
\Shiv"er\, v. i. [OE. chiveren, cheveren; of uncertain origin. This word seems to have been confused with shiver to shatter.] To tremble; to vibrate; to quiver; to shake, as from cold or fear. Prometheus is laid On icy Caucasus to shiver. --Swift. The man that shivered on the brink of sin, Thus steeled and hardened, ventures boldly in. --Creech.
\Shiv"er\, v. t. (Naut.) To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to the wind.
\Shiv"er\, n. The act of shivering or trembling.