Ague

Ague
A fever (such as from malaria) that is marked by paroxysms of chills, fever, and sweating recurring regular intervals. Also a fit of shivering, a chill. Hence, ague can refer to both chills and fevers. Pronounced 'A-(")gyü with the accent solidly on the "A", the word "ague" is an example of how medical terminology changes with time. Not only are new terms introduced (with great speed these days) but old terms such as "ague" may decline in usage (become archaic) and eventually may be dropped entirely (be obsolete). "Aigue" entered English usage in the 14th century, having crossed the channel from the Middle French "aguë". The word share the same origin as "acute." It descends from the Latin "acutus" meaning "sharp or pointed". A "fievre aigue" in French was a sharp or pointed (or acute) fever.
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1. Archaic term for malarial fever. 2. A chill. [Fr. aigu, acute]
- brass founder's a. SYN: brass founder's fever.

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ague 'ā-(.)gyü n
1) a fever (as malaria) marked by paroxysms of chills, fever, and sweating that recur at regular intervals
2) a fit of shivering: CHILL

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n.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ague — A gue, 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.) An intermittent fever,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ague — [ e:gju] das; , <aus gleichbed. engl. ague zu altfr. aguë, dies verkürzt aus (m)lat. febris acuta »heftiges Fieber«> (veraltet) [amerik.] Sumpffieber …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • Ague — A gue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Agued}.] To strike with an ague, or with a cold fit. Heywood. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ague — (n.) malarial fever, c.1300, from O.Fr. ague an acute fever, from M.L. (febris) acuta sharp (fever), fem. of acutus sharp (see ACUTE (Cf. acute)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • ague — ague; ague·weed; …   English syllables

  • ague — [ā′gyo͞o΄] n. [ME < OFr ague < ML ( febris) acuta, violent (fever): see ACUTE] 1. a fever, usually malarial, marked by regularly recurring chills 2. a chill; fit of shivering aguish [ā′gyo͞o ish] adj …   English World dictionary

  • ague — ► NOUN archaic 1) malaria or some other illness involving fever and shivering. 2) a fever or shivering fit. ORIGIN from Latin acuta febris acute fever …   English terms dictionary

  • ague — [14] In its origins, ague is the same word as acute. It comes from the Latin phrase febris acuta ‘sharp fever’ (which found its way into Middle English as fever agu). In the Middle Ages the Latin adjective acuta came to be used on its own as a… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • ague — [14] In its origins, ague is the same word as acute. It comes from the Latin phrase febris acuta ‘sharp fever’ (which found its way into Middle English as fever agu). In the Middle Ages the Latin adjective acuta came to be used on its own as a… …   Word origins

  • ague — 1. noun /ˈeɪ.ɡju/ a) An intermittent fever, attended by alternate cold and hot fits. b) The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and ague. 2. verb /ˈeɪ.ɡju/ To strike with an ague, or with a cold fit …   Wiktionary

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