To shake slightly, usually from cold or fear.
From Middle English 'chiveren,' possibly from Old English or Scandinavian sources, imitating the trembling motion. The word may have roots in an older word meaning 'to shake' or 'to split.'
Shivering is your body's automatic survival mechanism—rapid muscle contractions generate heat through friction, and interestingly, you shiver from fear for the same reason, even though psychological cold and actual cold activate identical neural pathways.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.