The Collaborative International Dictionary
Nervous \Nerv"ous\ (n[~e]rv"[u^]s), a. [L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous: cf. F. nerveux. See Nerve.]
Possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous. ``Nervous arms.''
--Pope.Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in sentiment or style; forcible; spirited; as, a nervous writer.
Of or pertaining to the nerves; seated in the nerves; as, nervous excitement; a nervous fever.
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Having the nerves weak, diseased, or easily excited; subject to, or suffering from, undue excitement of the nerves; easily agitated or annoyed.
Poor, weak, nervous creatures.
--Cheyne. Sensitive; excitable; timid.
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Apprehensive; as, a child nervous about his mother's reaction to his bad report card.
Our aristocratic class does not firmly protest against the unfair treatment of Irish Catholics, because it is nervous about the land.
--M. Arnold.Nervous fever (Med.), a low form of fever characterized by great disturbance of the nervous system, as evinced by delirium, or stupor, disordered sensibility, etc.
Nervous system (Anat.), the specialized co["o]rdinating apparatus which endows animals with sensation and volition. In vertebrates it is often divided into three systems: the central, brain and spinal cord; the peripheral, cranial and spinal nerves; and the sympathetic. See Brain, Nerve, Spinal cord, under Spinal, and Sympathetic system, under Sympathetic, and Illust. in Appendix.
Nervous temperament, a condition of body characterized by a general predominance of mental manifestations.
--Mayne.
Usage examples of "nervous fever".
Perry called at Hartfield, the same morning, it appeared that she was so much indisposed as to have been visited, though against her own consent, by himself, and that she was suffering under severe headachs, and a nervous fever to a degree, which made him doubt the possibility of her going to Mrs.
She shrieked herself into hysterics on the day of the funeral, and then the poor little girl was prostrated with nervous fever.