- Fear
- Fear Fear, n. [OE. fer, feer, fere, AS. f[=ae]r a coming
suddenly upon, fear, danger; akin to D. vaar, OHG. f[=a]ra
danger, G. gefahr, Icel. f[=a]r harm, mischief, plague, and
to E. fare, peril. See {Fare}.]
1. A painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of
evil, or the apprehension of impending danger;
apprehension; anxiety; solicitude; alarm; dread.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The degrees of this passion, beginning with the most moderate, may be thus expressed, -- {apprehension}, fear, {dread}, {fright}, {terror}. [1913 Webster]
Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
Where no hope is left, is left no fear. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. (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. [1913 Webster]
I will put my fear in their hearts. --Jer. xxxii. 40. [1913 Webster]
I will teach you the fear of the Lord. --Ps. xxxiv. 11. [1913 Webster]
Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due . . . fear to whom fear. --Rom. xiii. 7. [1913 Webster]
3. That which causes, or which is the object of, apprehension or alarm; source or occasion of terror; danger; dreadfulness. [1913 Webster]
There were they in great fear, where no fear was. --Ps. liii. 5. [1913 Webster]
The fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
{For fear}, in apprehension lest. ``For fear you ne'er see chain nor money more.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
