fever

Etymology

From Middle English fever, fevere, from Old English fefer, fefor (“fever”), from Latin febris (“a fever”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- (“to burn”). Replaced native Old English hriþ (“fever”). Compare also Saterland Frisian Fiewer, German Fieber, Danish feber, Swedish feber.

noun

1. A higher than normal body temperature of a person (or, generally, a mammal), usually caused by disease.
   "I have a fever. I think I've the flu."
2. (usually in combination with one or more preceding words) Any of various diseases.
   scarlet fever
3. A state of excitement or anxiety.
   There is little doubt that while war fever has not gripped Taipei, its economic foundations are being shaken. The stock market rose yesterday, but only because the Government has pumped $1.5 billion (£1 billion) into it after $370 million was drained from banks, and stocks were sold by investors who are worried by the Chinese manoeuvres. March 15, 1996, Jonathan Mirsky, “Taiwan President visits islanders to bolster morale”, in The Times, number 65,528, →ISSN, →OCLC, Overseas News, page 15, column 3
4. (neologism) A group of stingrays.
   On the way back to the mainland the boat passed over a fever of stingrays, and the sight of them through the glass was enough to colour everything else, and outstrip it. 2011, Julianne Schultz, editor, Griffith REVIEW 34: The Annual Fiction Edition
   They move like thoughts, like memory, like a Wes Anderson diorama of earthly delights: lionfish, an albacore, a fever of stingrays—and then like a wound, a sea turtle at eye level. 2020, Lindsay Illich, “sea turtle”, in rile & heave (everything reminds me of you): Poems
   She threw up her hands in excitement and the ball of water flew right into the pathway of the fever of stingrays. 2020, Sarah Elizabeth, Secrets of the Past: Ocean Academy Year 1

verb

1. To put into a fever; to affect with fever.
   a fevered lip
2. To become fevered.