fear

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: fearfulnessfrightconcerncarereverenceawevenerationdreadreverevenerate

WordNet 3.0

Noun (3)

  1. an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)Synonyms: fearfulnessfright
  2. an anxious feeling“care had aged him”“they hushed it up out of fear of public reaction”Synonyms: concerncare
  3. a feeling of profound respect for someone or something“the fear of God”“the Chinese reverence for the dead”“the French treat food with gentle reverence”“his respect for the law bordered on veneration”Synonyms: reverenceaweveneration

Verb (5)

  1. be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event“I fear she might get aggressive”
  2. be afraid or scared of; be frightened of“I fear the winters in Moscow”“We should not fear the Communists!”Synonyms: dread
  3. be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement“I fear I won't make it to your wedding party”
  4. be uneasy or apprehensive about“I fear the results of the final exams”
  5. regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of“Fear God as your father”“We venerate genius”Synonyms: reverencereverevenerate
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Fear \Fear\ (f[=e]r), n. A variant of Fere, a mate, a companion. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
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]

Fear \Fear\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feared (f[=e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Fearing.] [OE. feren, faeren, to frighten, to be afraid, AS. f[=ae]ran to terrify. See Fear, n.]

1.To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude. [1913 Webster]

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.— Ps. xxiii. 4.[1913 Webster]

Note: With subordinate clause.

I greatly fear my money is not safe.— Shak.
I almost fear to quit your hand.— D. Jerrold.[1913 Webster]

2.To have a reverential awe of; to be solicitous to avoid the displeasure of. [1913 Webster]

Leave them to God above; him serve and fear.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

3.To be anxious or solicitous for; now replaced by fear for. [R.] [1913 Webster]

The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore . . . I fear you.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

4.To suspect; to doubt. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Ay what else, fear you not her courage?— Shak.[1913 Webster]

5.To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by fear. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Fear their people from doing evil.— Robynson (More's Utopia).[1913 Webster]
Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.— Shak.

Syn: To apprehend; dread; reverence; venerate. [1913 Webster]

Fear \Fear\, v. i. To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety on account of some expected evil. [1913 Webster]

I exceedingly fear and quake. --Heb. xii. 21. [1913 Webster]

Fere \Fere\, n. [OE. fere companion, AS. gef[=e]ra, from f[=e]ran to go, travel, faran to travel. [root]78. See Fare.] A mate or companion; -- often used of a wife. [Obs.] [Written also fear and feere.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

And Cambel took Cambrina to his fere. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

In fere, together; in company. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

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