FEAR • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Fear

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noun

Fear n. A variant of Fere, a mate, a companion. (Obs.)

Fear n.

A painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger; apprehension; anxiety; solicitude; alarm; dread. Note: The degrees of this passion, beginning with the most moderate, may be thus expressed, apprehension, fear, dread, fright, terror. "Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us." "Where no hope is left, is left no fear."

(Script.)

(a)

Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude to avoid, God's wrath; the trembling and awful reverence felt toward the Supreme Being.

(b)

Respectful reverence for men of authority or worth. "I will put my fear in their hearts." "I will teach you the fear of the Lord." "Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due... fear to whom fear."

That which causes, or which is the object of, apprehension or alarm; source or occasion of terror; danger; dreadfulness. "There were they in great fear, where no fear was." "The fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise."

For fear, in apprehension lest. "For fear you ne'er see chain nor money more."

Fere n. (Written also fear and feere) A mate or companion; often used of a wife. (Obs.) "And Cambel took Cambrina to his fere."

In fere, together; in company. (Obs.)

verb

Fear v. t. (past & past part. feared; pres. part. fearing)

To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude. "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." Note: With subordinate clause. "I greatly fear my money is not safe." "I almost fear to quit your hand."

To have a reverential awe of; to be solicitous to avoid the displeasure of. "Leave them to God above; him serve and fear."

To be anxious or solicitous for; now replaced by fear for. (R.) "The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore... I fear you."

To suspect; to doubt. (Obs.) "Ay what else, fear you not her courage?"

To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by fear. (Obs.) "Fear their people from doing evil." "Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs."

Synonyms: To apprehend; dread; reverence; venerate.

Fear v. i. To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety on account of some expected evil. "I exceedingly fear and quake."

See images of 'Fear'

Etymology of 'Fear'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Fear" Quotes from Famous Books

... cabin, the brave man betrayed the ingenuity of his preparations for his perilous Venture, and verified ed his confident statement to Renie, that she need have no fear, as in good time he would come ashore again to tell the tale of ...

— The Dock Rats of New York • "Old Sleuth"

... again, if she could do it, perhaps also she could talk of it without emotion. Once more there was fear in his eyes as he watched her, and her own ...

— The Bittermeads Mystery • E. R. Punshon

... station. But he was not. There were three or four of her girl friends with their arms full of flowers and one or two older boys who had finished college and were in business. They made much of her and she greeted them warmly for all the cold fear which had ...

— Play the Game! • Ruth Comfort Mitchell

... supreme interest of created and dependent beings, as it is easily proved, has been universally confessed; and since all rational agents are conscious of having neglected or violated the duties prescribed to them, the fear of being rejected, or punished by God, has always burdened the human mind. The expiation of crimes, and renovation of the forfeited hopes of divine favour, therefore constitute a large part ...

— The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, In Nine Volumes - Volume the Third: The Rambler, Vol. II • Samuel Johnson

... at a time when she would be sure of gathering round her an army strong enough to hold the country; as to him, Douglas, one was so used to his silent disappearances and to his unexpected returns, that there was no reason to fear that his ...

— CELEBRATED CRIMES, COMPLETE - MARY STUART--1587 • ALEXANDRE DUMAS, PERE

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