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Ague tree

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.

  2. (Med.) An intermittent fever, attended by alternate cold and hot fits.

  3. The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and ague.

  4. A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold.
    --Dryden.

    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.]