Ague (&unr_;), 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.
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2. (Med.) An intermittent fever, attended by alternate cold and hot fits.
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3. The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and ague.
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4. A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold. Dryden.
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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.]
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