chill

I. noun Etymology: Middle English chile chill, frost, from Old English ciele; akin to Old English ceald cold Date: before 12th century 1. a. a sensation of cold accompanied by shivering b. a disagreeable sensation of coldness 2. a moderate but disagreeable degree of cold 3. a check to enthusiasm or warmth of feeling <

felt the chill of his opponent's stare

> II. adjective Date: 14th century 1. a. moderately cold b. cold, raw 2. affected by cold <

chill travelers

> 3. distant, formal <

a chill reception

> 4. depressing, dispiriting <

chill penury — Thomas Gray

> • chillness noun III. verb Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. a. to become cold b. to shiver or quake with or as if with cold 2. to become taken with a chill 3. a. chill out b. hang 12 transitive verb 1. a. to make cold or chilly <

spectators chilled by a cold wind

> b. to make cool especially without freezing <

chill a bottle of wine

> 2. to affect as if with cold ; dispirit, discourage <

were chilled by the drab austerity — William Attwood

> • chillingly adverb