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.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. fāra danger, G.
gefahr, Icel. fār 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.
☞ 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.
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.