Shiver, v. i.
Etymology: [OE. chiveren, cheveren; of uncertain origin. This word seems to have been confused with shiver to shatter.]
To tremble; to vibrate; to quiver; to shake, as from cold or fear. Prometheus is laid On icy Caucasus to shiver. Swift. The man that shivered on the brink of sin, Thus steeled and hardened, ventures boldly in. Creech.
5 other Webster entries under this spelling
Shiver, n.
1. One of the small pieces, or splinters, into which a brittle thing is broken by sudden violence; -- generally used in the plural. "All to shivers dashed." Milton.
2. A thin slice; a shive. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] "A shiver of their own loaf." Fuller. Of your soft bread, not but a shiver. Chaucer.
3. (Geol.)
A variety of blue slate.
4. (Naut.)
A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
5. A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.
6. A spindle. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Shiver, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shivered; p. pr. & vb. n. Shivering.]
To break into many small pieces, or splinters; to shatter; to dash to pieces by a blow; as, to shiver a glass goblet. All the ground With shivered armor strown. Milton.
Shiver, v. i.
To separate suddenly into many small pieces or parts; to be shattered. There shiver shafts upon shields thick. Chaucer The natural world, should gravity once cease, . . . would instantly shiver into millions of atoms. Woodward.
Shiver, v. t. (Naut.)
To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to the wind.
Shiver, n.
The act of shivering or trembling.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for shiver; he lists it under break, shake.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.