n. [ OE. agu, ague, OF. agu, F. aigu, sharp, OF. fem. ague, LL. (febris) acuta, a sharp, acute fever, fr. L. acutus sharp. See Acute. ] 1. An acute fever. [ Obs. ] “Brenning agues.” P. Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Med.) A fever characterized by paroxysms of high fever and shaking chills. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]
3. The cold fit or rigor of malaria or any other intermittent fever; as, fever and ague. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]
4. A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold. Dryden. AS [ 1913 Webster ]
Ague cake, an enlargement of the spleen produced by ague. --
Ague drop, a solution of the arsenite of potassa used for ague. --
Ague fit, a fit of the ague. Shak. --
Ague spell, a spell or charm against ague. Gay. --
Ague tree, the sassafras, -- sometimes so called from the use of its root formerly, in cases of ague. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]