fever

n. [ OE. fever, fefer, AS. fefer, fefor, L. febris: cf. F. fièvre. Cf. Febrile. ] 1. (Med.) A diseased state of the system, marked by increased heat, acceleration of the pulse, and a general derangement of the functions, including usually, thirst and loss of appetite. Many diseases, of which fever is the most prominent symptom, are denominated fevers; as, typhoid fever; yellow fever. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Remitting fevers subside or abate at intervals; intermitting fevers intermit or entirely cease at intervals; continued or continual fevers neither remit nor intermit. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Excessive excitement of the passions in consequence of strong emotion; a condition of great excitement; as, this quarrel has set my blood in a fever. [ 1913 Webster ]

An envious fever
Of pale and bloodless emulation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brain fever,
Continued fever, etc. See under Brain, Continued, etc. --
Fever and ague, a form of fever recurring in paroxysms which are preceded by chills. It is of malarial origin. --
Fever blister (Med.), a blister or vesicle often found about the mouth in febrile states; a variety of herpes. --
Fever bush (Bot.), the wild allspice or spice bush. See Spicewood. --
Fever powder. Same as Jame's powder. --
Fever root (Bot.), an American herb of the genus Triosteum (Triosteum perfoliatum); -- called also feverwort and horse gentian. --
Fever sore, a carious ulcer or necrosis. Miner. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Highly excited; as, a fevered imagination.
Syn. -- feverish. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A slight fever. [ Obs. ] Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. feferfuge, fr. L. febrifugia. See fever, Fugitive, and cf. Febrifuge. ] (Bot.) A perennial plant (Pyrethrum Parthenium, or Chrysanthemum Parthenium) allied to camomile, having finely divided leaves and white blossoms; -- so named from its supposed febrifugal qualities. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having a fever; suffering from, or affected with, a moderate degree of fever; showing increased heat and thirst; as, the patient is feverish. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Indicating, or pertaining to, fever; characteristic of a fever; as, feverish symptoms. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hot; sultry. “The feverish north.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Disordered as by fever; excited; restless; as, the feverish condition of the commercial world.
Syn. -- fevered. [ 1913 Webster ]

Strive to keep up a frail and feverish being. Milton.

-- Fe"ver*ish*ly, adv. -- Fe"ver*ish*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf.F. fiévreux. ] 1. Affected with fever or ague; feverish. [ 1913 Webster ]

His heart, love's feverous citadel. Keats. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to, or having the nature of, fever; as, a feverous pulse. [ 1913 Webster ]

All maladies . . . all feverous kinds. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having the tendency to produce fever; as, a feverous disposition of the year. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Feverishly. [ Obs. ] Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Fever root, under Fever. [ 1913 Webster ]