Middle English Dictionary Entry
fērd(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | fērd(e n.(1) Also ferid. |
| Etymology | Prob. from the phrase for fēr(e)d 'for being frightened, for fear', which appears in the earliest quots. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The emotion of fear; the state of being afraid; (b) for ~, because of fear, in terror; (c) for ~ of, in fear of (someone, something); (d) for ~ (that), for fear that, lest.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.9.2 : Ferde [Corp-O: Ȝoure feer and ȝoure tremblyng].
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)215 : Þenne such a ferde on hem fel & flayed hem wythinne.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.11.25 : Ȝoure dreed and feerd.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)17 : Whan the host was in so gret ferde [Dub: frightnes], he was that man that moste stidfastly hym helde.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)9 : Suche ferde also han these lovers in presence of their loves.
b
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1463 : Ȝe schule fle for ferd.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2272 : Now þou fles for ferde er þou fele harmez.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)672 : For ferd scho qwake allway.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)2460 : Þe py for ferid was fast criand.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.557 : And hast for ferde caught attricioun?
- (a1426) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xx : And all þe pepyll & þe preste, so affrayde at þe levacion tyme, clappyd saume þe buke for ferid.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)416 : Scho fled for ferd ferre out of hir kythe.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)1213 : Styntynge in my tale For ferde..Ful ofte I wex bothe pale and red.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)97 : I foundede faste there-fro for ferde to be wryghede.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)7991 : I whook for ferd lest I wer schent.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)46/202 : It gars me quake for ferde to dee.
c
- ?c1335 Þe grace of ihu (Hrl 913)71 : Þe ferþ dai þat silf son Worþ as rede..For ferd of dome.
- a1400 Cursor (Vsp A.3)986/126* : Þai stynted oft For ferd of þe Iews.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)386 : Þeron flokked þe folke for ferde of þe wrake.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)121/8 : For feerde of disseite.
- a1450(1414) Whanne alle a kyngdom (Dgb 102)7 : Falsed stondis ay in drede For ferd of ryȝtwis iugement.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)136 : Þus airis he out of Egipte..Fled for ferd of his fais.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)32/315 : I dase and I dedir ffor ferd of that tayll.
d
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.428 : Out of þe lond þai gun driue For ferd þai were y-founde.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)3651 : And for ferde atte he mistraw, þou salle say þou art esau.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)97/12 : For feerde þat he schuld be had in suspecte.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)911 : For ferde or i solde þam tyne, þerfore fledd i.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2590 : Þe streme..stonaid þam all For ferd [Dub: for lest] þe festing suld faile & þai in þe flode droune.
2.
Something inspiring fear, danger.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)17 : Of whych ferde [Dub: frightnes] the moste Parte of the Oste was so adred, that they flow and hiddyn ham.
3.
? = fẹ̄re n. (2), power, strength.
Associated quotations
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)6673 : For ferd [Ld: fere] of love heo was nygh wod.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.607 : Whi sholde thanne of ferd thyn herte quake?
Note: New phrase of ~
Note: [vrr. of fered, of ferde; for ferd; for drede]