1.
[syn: ferociously, fiercely]
2. in an emotionally fierce manner;
- Example: "she was fiercely proud of her children"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fierce \Fierce\, a. [Compar. Fiercer; superl. Fiercest.]
[OE. fers, fiers, OF. fier, nom. fiers, fierce, savage,
cruel, F. fier proud, from L. ferus wild, savage, cruel;
perh. akin to E. bear the animal. Cf. Feral, Ferocity.]
1. Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as, a fierce
wind.
[1913 Webster]
His fierce thunder drove us to the deep. --Milton.
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2. Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or
injure; of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious. "A
fierce whisper." --Dickens. "A fierce tyrant." --Pope.
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The fierce foe hung upon our broken rear. --Milton.
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Thou huntest me as a fierce lion. --Job. x. 16.
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3. Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent.
Syn: Ferocious; savage; cruel; vehement; impetuous;
barbarous; fell. See Ferocious. -- Fierce"ly, adv.
-- Fierce"ness, n.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
fiercely
adv 1: in a physically fierce manner; "silence broken by dogs
barking ferociously"; "they fought fiercely" [syn:
ferociously, fiercely]
2: in an emotionally fierce manner; "she was fiercely proud of
her children"