fear
|fear|
🇺🇸
/fɪr/
🇬🇧
/fɪə/
anxiety of danger
Etymology
'fear' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'fǣr', where 'fǣr' meant 'calamity or sudden danger'.
'fǣr' changed from Old English to the Middle English word 'fer', and eventually became the modern English word 'fear'.
Initially, it meant 'calamity or sudden danger', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
She was paralyzed by fear when she saw the snake.
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Verb 1
to be afraid of someone or something as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening.
He fears the dark.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35