Chills

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /t͡ʃɪlz/

Definitions

1. Sudden sensations of cold and shivering often caused by illness or cold exposure ; brief feelings of fear, excitement, or thrill
2. Experiencing a shivering sensation that makes the skin crawl, typically related to temperature or sickness ; undergoing a stirring emotion that causes a thrilling or frightful reaction
3. A feeling involving trembling and goosebumps as a result of cold or fever ; an emotional response that generates suspense, fear, or exhilaration in a person

Etymology: The plural "chills" is the form of "chill," and the noun's roots run deep. "Chill" comes from Old English "ciele" and "cele," meaning "cold" or "coldness," which traces back through Proto-Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to be cold." That same ancient root sits behind "cool," "cold," "gel," and "congeal," so the word belongs to a family of ideas about the sensation of cold. A separate verb, "chillen," came from Old English "cilian," meaning "to be cold," and is related to Dutch "killen," which still means "to shiver." The Middle English noun "chele" and the verb "chillen" grew up alongside each other, and the plural "chills" is the form that carries the physical sensation: the shivering and goosebumps of cold or fever. Over time the same plural also took on the emotional sense of a shiver of fear, suspense, or excitement, as when a story gives you the chills.

Synonyms: shivers, tingles

Antonyms: warmth, comfort