fever

 
Pronunciation: /ˈfiːvə/

noun

  • an abnormally high body temperature, usually accompanied by shivering, headache, and in severe instances, delirium: she had a slight fever [mass noun]: quinine was used to reduce malarial fever
  • a state of nervous excitement or agitation: I was mystified, and in a fever of expectation
  • [mass noun, with modifier] the excitement felt by a group of people about a particular public event: election fever reaches its climax tomorrow

verb

[with object] archaic
  • bring about a high body temperature or a state of nervous excitement in: a heart which sin has fevered

Origin:

Old English fēfor, from Latin febris; reinforced in Middle English by Old French fievre, also from febris