Middle English Dictionary Entry
fẹ̄rsnes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fẹ̄rsnes(se n. Also fiers-, fu(e)rs-. |
| Etymology | From adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Bravery, courage.
Associated quotations
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4825 : The fame of our fuersnes fares abrode.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9771 : Ector..lightly his lif lost..ffor all his fursnes.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)2.7 : Non at ȝoure nede ȝoure name wolde nempne, in ffersnesse ne in ffoltheed.
2.
(a) Severity, harshness; (b) cruelty, ferocity; also, wildness, savagery; (c) violence, impetuosity, force; (d) a violent attack, an assault.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.11.22 : Se the goodnesse and feersnesse [L severitatem] of God..feersnesse in to hem that felden doun.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)p.3 : Lord! will thou noȝt me schame ne schende, Whan thou schalt be in thi fersnesse, To dredfull dome whan I schal wende?
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.66 : Lest þou hire fiersnesse in hire wraþþe fynde.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)17 : Þe priuylege of Petre dwelliþ were euer þe dome is ȝeuen aftir his equite, þat þe fersnes be noþer to mikil ne to litil.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)45b/a : In þe chin of a beest is moost strengþe..for if þe chinne is I broke, al here cruelnes and feresnesse [L feritas] failleþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)265a/b : The boor is so fers..þat for his fiersnesse [L feritatis] and his cruelnesse, he despyseþ and setteþ nouȝt by deþ.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)138/25 : The fiersnes of the lyoone.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judith 3.11 : Thei doynge these thingis myȝten not swage the fersnesse [L ferocitatem] of his herte.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)137/25 : Smale fyngyrrys and fat sygnyfye fersnes, enuyusnes, and hardynes.
- c1475 To have in mynde (Antq 101)268 : God smote the said Henry for hys gret fersnesse.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.4.8 : Dreede ȝe not inwardli the feersnesse [L impetum] of hem.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.28.49 : The Lord shal brynge vpon thee a folk..into liknes of a fleynge egle with feersnes [WB(2): bire; L impetu].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Dan.8.6 : He ran in the fersnesse [WB(1): bir; L impetu] of his strengthe to that ram.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Heb.11.34 : Thei quenchiden the feersnesse of fier.
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)315/3 : Þer aroos & come such a wynd..wiþ such a fersnes that he brast & blewe doun to ground hye houses.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)48b/a : Take hede if it haue strong fersenesse, for þan we werke nouȝt.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)58/8 : Rightwys venieans, with grete ferisnes of turmentis.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)112 : Þei schulde inevitably..abhorre deeþ and flee it..wiþ myche more looþnes and feersnes þan doon þe louȝer sensual powers.
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.10.16 : These forsothe that weren with Machabee..maden feersnesse, or saut [L impetum], in to strengthis of Ydumeys.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.25.19 : The whiche ȝe eten vnto fulfillynge, dredynge the feersnes [WB(2): assailyng; L impetum] of no man.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Num.22.3 : The feersnes [WB(2): assailing; L impetum] of hym thei myȝten not bere.