fear English · revision 2669

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725, Beowulf|origins=gem-pro *fērą}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /fɪə/, US /fɪr/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|fere]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|fǣr|t=calamity, sudden danger, peril, sudden attack]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*fērą|t=danger]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the source also of Old Saxon vār “ambush”, Old High German fāra “ambush, danger”, German Gefahr and Dutch gevaar “danger”, and Old Norse fár “harm, misfortune”;^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) Gothic fērja “one who lies in wait, spy” is derived from it.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Watkins and Barnhart take it to [[ine-pro|*per-|t=to try, risk]], with Latin perīculum “trial, danger” and experīrī “to try” and Greek peîra “trial”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) but Hoad finds the further connections unknown.^(Hoad 1986) The verb is [[inh|enm|feren]], from Old English fǣran “to terrify”, from the noun.^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English fǣr, “danger, peril”, is found about 725 in ''Beowulf'';^(Barnhart 1988) it meant the calamity itself, not the emotion it caused.^(AHD 2000) The Old English verb fǣran meant “to frighten”.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “uneasiness caused by possible danger”, the state of being afraid, developed by the late 12th century^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) (about 1280 in Barnhart's earliest Middle English example).^(Barnhart 1988) Old English had used fyrhto and the verb ondrǣdan for that feeling.^(Etymonline) The dread and reverence felt toward God is from about 1400.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb's intransitive sense, “to feel fear”, is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) while the old sense “to frighten” survived only in archaic and dialect use;^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) it has been revived in video games for “fear” spells.^(Etymonline) ''To put the fear of God into'' someone, “to intimidate”, is by 1888.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English fǣr, danger.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1000 – verb, to frighten.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1175 – the emotion of fear.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – verb, to feel fear.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – the fear of God.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1888 – ''to put the fear of God into''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An unpleasant feeling of [[anxiety]] caused by the presence or threat of [[danger]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A feeling of worry or apprehension about something.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Deep reverence or [[awe]], as toward God.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A cause of dread.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To be afraid of.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To be worried about; to expect with alarm: ''fear the worst''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To be in awe of; to revere.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To frighten.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fearer]]

+ * [[fearful]]

+ * [[fearless]]

+ * [[fearmonger]]

+ * [[fearsome]]

+ * [[God-fearing]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[afraid]]

+ * [[peril]]

+ * [[experiment]]

+ * [[expert]]

+ * [[empirical]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Fear'' is the most general word for the feeling of agitation in the face of danger;^(AHD) ''dread'' adds a reluctance to face what is feared, and ''fright'' is sudden, usually brief fear.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}