a. [f. AGUE sb. + -ISH.]
1. Of the nature or character of an ague.
1665–9. Boyle, Occas. Refl., Contents. The immoderate Heat and Cold of the Aguish Fit.
1753. Hanway, Trav. (1762), I. III. xxvi. 110. The dews here fall heavy; and the heat of the sun… is productive of colds and aguish pains.
1856. Miss Mulock, John Halifax, 170. It was a low agueish fever.
2. Having a tendency to produce ague.
1627. Speed, Eng. etc. Abridged, xv. § 4. The ayre is temperate and pleasant, onely towards the waters somewhat aguish.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1815), 106. The nocturnal rheums of an aguish climate.
1850. Lyell, 2nd Visit to U.S., II. 54. A rich aguish flat, bordering the Missouri.
3. Subject to ague.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countrey Farme, 191. There is nothing better … for leane agueish persons, than the vse of the pulpe of Gourds.
1672. Davenant, Love & Hon. (1673), 241. Which left me feeble as an aguish Girl.
1824. Byron, Juan, XVI. lxxxiii. But both were thrown away amongst the fens; For wit hath no great friend in aguish folks.
4. fig. Resembling an ague, in shakiness or intermittency; a. quaking, shivering, shaky; b. coming by fits and starts.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., VIII. xxxi. A weak distrustfull heart is vertues aguish spell.
1638. Cowley, Love’s Riddle, IV. (1711), III. 119. The aguish Head of every Tree by Æolus Was rock’d asleep, and shook as if it nodded.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. XI. 202. So aguish and fantastical a thing is the Conscience of Men who have once departed from the Rule of Conscience.
1865. Pall Mall G., 24 April, 4. Their panics are of the aguish or intermittent type.
