Definitions for: Fear


[n] an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
[n] an anxious feeling; "care had aged him"; "they hushed it up out of fear of public reaction"
[v] regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of; "Fear God as your father"; "We venerate genius"
[v] be afraid or scared of; be frightened of; "I fear the winters in Moscow"; "We should not fear the Communists!"
[v] be uneasy or apprehensive about; "I fear the results of the final exams"
[v] be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement; "I fear I won't make it to your wedding party"
[v] be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event; "I fear she might get aggressive"



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.

Synonyms: care, concern, dread, fearfulness, fright, revere, reverence, venerate

Antonyms: bravery, fearlessness

See Also: alarm, anxiety, apprehension, apprehensiveness, awe, chill, cold sweat, consternation, creeps, dismay, dread, emotion, enshrine, esteem, frisson, horror, hysteria, intimidation, panic, panic, panic attack, prise, prize, quiver, regret, respect, reverence, saint, scare, shiver, shudder, stage fright, terror, thrill, timidity, timidness, timorousness, tingle, value, veneration, worry, worship

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