from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
ague \a"gue\ ([=a]"g[-u]), 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.) A fever characterized by paroxysms of high fever
and shaking chills.
[1913 Webster + AS]
3. The cold fit or rigor of malaria or any other intermittent
fever; as, fever and ague.
[1913 Webster + AS]
4. A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold. --Dryden. AS
[1913 Webster]
{Ague cake}, an enlargement of the spleen produced by ague.
{Ague drop}, a solution of the arsenite of potassa used for
ague.
{Ague fit}, a fit of the ague. --Shak.
{Ague spell}, a spell or charm against ague. --Gay.
{Ague tree}, the sassafras, -- sometimes so called from the
use of its root formerly, in cases of ague. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]