Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Fear?

\Fear\, n. A variant of {Fere}, a mate, a companion. [Obs.] --Spenser.
\Fear\, n. [OE. fer, feer, fere, AS. f?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. Note: The degrees of this passion, beginning with the most moderate, may be thus expressed, -- apprehension, fear, dread, fright, terror. Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us. --Locke. Where no hope is left, is left no fear. --Milton. 2. (Script.) (a) Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude to avoid, God's wrath; the trembling and awful reverence felt toward the Supreme Belng. (b) Respectful reverence for men of authority or worth. I will put my fear in their hearts. --Jer. xxxii. 40. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. --Ps. xxxiv. 11. render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due . . . fear to whom fear. --Rom. xiii. 7. 3. That which causes, or which is the object of, apprehension or alarm; source or occasion of terror; danger; dreadfulness. There were they in great fear, where no fear was. --Ps. liii. 5. The fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise. --Shak. {For fear}, in apprehension lest. ``For fear you ne'er see chain nor money more.'' --Shak.
\Fear\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Feared}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fearing}.] [OE. feren, faeren, to frighten, to be afraid, AS. f?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. I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. --Ps. xxiii. 4. Note: With subordinate clause. I greatly fear my money is not safe. --Shak. I almost fear to quit your hand. --D. Jerrold. 2. To have a reverential awe of; to solicitous to avoid the displeasure of. Leave them to God above; him serve and fear. --Milton. 3. To be anxious or solicitous for. [R.] The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore . . . I fear you. --Shak. 4. To suspect; to doubt. [Obs.] Ay what else, fear you not her courage? --Shak. 5. To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by fear. [Obs.] fear their people from doing evil. --Robynsin (More's utopia). Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs. --Shak. Syn: To apprehend; dread; reverence; venerate.
\Fear\, v. i. To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety on account of some expected evil. I exceedingly fear and quake. --Heb. xii. 21.