# fever

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfiːvə/ · frequency rank #4,945

## Definitions
1. A higher than normal body temperature of a person (or, generally, a mammal), usually caused by disease.
2. Any of various diseases.
3. A state of excitement or anxiety.
4. A group of stingrays.
5. Sexual attraction towards a specific group of people.

## Etymology
From Middle English fever, fevere, from Old English fefer, fefor (“fever”) and Old French fievre (“fever”), from Latin febris (“a fever”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- (“to burn”). Replaced native Old English hriþ (“fever”). Compare also Saterland Frisian Fiewer, German Fieber, Danish feber, Swedish feber.

## Easily confused with
- **five** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-five)
- **fewer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-fewer)
- **fiber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-fiber)
- **flyer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-flyer)
- **finer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-finer)
- **fives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-fives)
- **foyer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-foyer)
- **fixer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-fixer)
- **freer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-freer)
- **fryer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-fryer)
- **flier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-flier)
- **fiver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-fiver)
- **forever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fever-vs-forever)
- **fee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fee-vs-fever)
- **fer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fer-vs-fever)
- **feel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feel-vs-fever)
- **feet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feet-vs-fever)
- **fear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fear-vs-fever)
- **feed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feed-vs-fever)
- **fees** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fees-vs-fever)

## Common misspellings (7)
`efver`, `feevr`, `feverr`, `fevre`, `fevver`, `ffever`, `fveer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fever