Enfever

/ɪnˈfɛvər/ verb

Definition

To cause someone to have a fever or become feverish; to afflict with fever (archaic).

Etymology

From en- + fever (from Latin febris). Would have been used medically or poetically to describe the onset or intensification of fever.

Kelly Says

Before thermometers, 'enfever' was how people described the visible transformation of fever—the flushing, the delirium—turning a symptom into an active force that was doing something to the patient.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.