Middle English Dictionary Entry
fērdful adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | fērdful adj. |
| Etymology | From fērd(e fear. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Inclined to fear, easily frightened, timorous; (b) having the fear of God, reverent; (c) afraid (to do something), frightened.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)19a/b : Fendis..temptiþ glad men to lecherye..and ferdful men to wanhope.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)276a/a : No beste is acounted so ferdful as þe Camaleon, and chaungeþ þerfore his colour.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deut.28.65 : For the Lord schal ȝyue to thee there a ferdful [L pavidum] herte.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)174b/a : Þer bene forsoþ many ferdful, & þai wolde more dye þan suffre yren.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.BV(1) (Hnt HM 111)47 : Hir ferdful shame hir shende wole & spille.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)97 : Manye men ben..so ouer feerdful þat if þei in eny caas schulde for eny while trowe a falsehede..þei wolen holde hem gilty of greet synne.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)373 : The wolfe seide to the hare, 'amonge all bestes thou arte a ferdfull beste.'
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.28.14 : Blisful the man that euermor is ferdful [L pavidus].
c
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3085 : I am so ferdful from it to departe.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 277)29/1 : If þe pacient be ferdful for to suffer kuttyng.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1258 : They þat swymmen in richesse..Leest god forgete hem, oughten ferdful be.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)28/5 : The more ferdfull she shulde be to displese..her husbonde.
2.
Inspiring fear, terrifying, terrible.
Associated quotations
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.19.18 : Smoke stiede therof as of a furneis, and al the hil was ferdful [L terribilis].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)44b/a : Þe more coniunccionz..signifieþ wonderful þingez, stronge and ferdful, & mutacionz of kyngdomez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)145b/a : Þat fire is ferdful, & many ar wode in þe werke for drede of þat fire.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)204 : How dredfull & ferdfull sall þat wirchipfull kynges heuede apere agayne in his ryghtwyse dome!
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.724 : Take bolis that beth high..A ferdful face..wolde He haue.
- c1450 Ihesus þat sprong (Lamb 853)76 : Þou woldist..suffre manye a feerdful fray.
- c1450 Myght wisdom (Add 31042)12 : With-owt thi helpe may none Instrument Þis ferdfull acte to ende nor to be-gyn.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1748 : The first sight is ferdfullest for tho That neuer were in fight.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)2/25 : The secunde comyng..schall so cruell be, and ferdfull, and horrybull.
- a1500 Counsels Isidor (Hrl 1706)373 : Be not feerdefulle to þi sogettys; be suche lorde to hem þat þey may be glad to serue þe.
- a1500 St.Aug.Contemptu Mundi (Hrl 1706)374 : After a grette luste sueþ a fulle a greuous ferdefulle peyne.