Middle English Dictionary Entry
fēr n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | fēr n.(1) |
| Etymology | OE fǣr, fēr (corresp. to OHG fāra danger). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The emotion of fear; a state of being afraid; haven ~, to have fear, be afraid; (b) for ~, because of fear; for ~ of, for fear of (something); in ~, in fear, afraid; putten in (into) ~, to frighten; withouten ~, out of ~, without fear, fearless, fearlessly.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.11000 Virg.(LdMisc 108)42 : And ne haue þerof no fere.
- c1300 SLeg.Pilate (Hrl 2277)253 : Ech man hadde fere.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2640 : Uor drede of vortimer..Such folc wiþ him he broȝte, vor he adde of him fere.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)2 Par.14.14 : A grete fere [L terror] assaylede alle.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.369 : He woste nouȝt what was fere and drede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.803 : Wel may thy goost haue fere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1524 : Bot yit him stant of me no fere For noght that evere I can manace.
- c1400(?c1280) SLeg.OTHist.(LdMisc 622)42 : Wite þi douttren with eye wel þat þai haue of þe fere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3337 : Al fer and drede was leide asyde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1990 : Ne hath no fer, ne lat be no grevance.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.314 : Say on, lat me nat in this feere dwelle.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3843 : Thou hast lost bothe drede and feere.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)143 : For with that oon encresede ay me fere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)156 : Feer or ferdenesse: Timor, terror.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)607 : Of which thou hast a fere and wonder.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.1104 : Feere had thrilled my herte to the roote.
b
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)97 : Hi neren aferede of nane licamliche pinunge, and þerfore wiðutan fore [?read: fare] godes blisse bodedan.
- c1300 SLeg.Chris.(Hrl 2277)162 : For fere [Ld: drede] he ful to grounde anon.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8305 : Þo sarazins it iseie, hii were somdel in fere.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)36 : It wax neiȝ of his witt wod for fere.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3369 : Euere his lyf in feere Was he to don amys or moore trespace.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2686 : His hors for feere gan to turne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4125 : Malencolie Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie For fere of blake beres or boles blake.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.462 : It oghte pute a man in fere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1245 : He can noght himselve schylde Fro no peril, bot out of feere The weie he secheth heire and there.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)151a/a : He may nouȝt see the hors wiþoute fere.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1908 : But ȝitt bode he seuen dayes in rest For fere [Vsp: doute; Got: drede] lest any damnyng brest.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.191 : Preestes and oþer peple to peers þei drowen..al for fere of hunger.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4331 : Al þei spoyle withoute drede or fere.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.303 : Ne chaungeth naught for fere so youre hewe!
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2978 : Therfore to entre I was in fere.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1814 : What for fer of sclaunder and drede of deth, She loste bothe at ones wit and breth.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.23 : And first biholde aboute and se thyn aier; If hit be cleer and hool, stond out of fere.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)360 : Þei live al her lives in scrupal and in feere of consciens.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)482 : Al the blood owt of hyr faas For sodeyn feer was styrt awey.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)889 : Whan boistous wyndes put seemen into fere.
- a1500(c1370) Chaucer Comp.L.(Benson-Robinson)51 : Whan I shulde daunce, for fere, lo, than I quake.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)17 : The wemen..rane away for the hidos fere of the boistous and merciles men of armes.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)606 : There come prykyng..A bolde knyght wythowten feere.
2.
(a) Something which inspires fear; a fearful thing, action, or situation; danger ; (b) the power to inspire fear, fearsomeness, formidableness.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 18.11 : Al aboute feris [L formidines] shul gasten hym.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2205 : The king..Hath axed hem what is the fere, Why thei be so despuiled there.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1144 : Whan she swiche othes as hire leste devyse Hadde of hym take, hire thoughte tho no fere.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.858 : Witht oute distresse or fere done to hym in worde or in dede, he wilfully and openly confessed yat he was gylty.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)174 : And I saugh next in al thys fere How Creusa..And eke Askanius..Fledden.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)369/402 : Now helpe me, ageyne that I were hol, outh of this fere.
b
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)111/4 : Thei with a fewe people .. in oon howre discomfited both hostis and .. with grette feer and litill brute gatte the wourship and the power ouir them that proudely ded manace þem.