The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
An acute fever. [Obs.] ``Brenning agues.''
--P. Plowman.(Med.) An intermittent fever, attended by alternate cold and hot fits.
The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and ague.
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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.]