Main Entry:

¹fear

Pronunciation:

\ˈfir\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English feren, from Old English fǣran, from fǣr

Date:

before 12th century

transitive verb

1archaic : frighten2archaic : to feel fear in (oneself)3: to have a reverential awe of <fear God>4: to be afraid of : expect with alarm <fear the worst>intransitive verb: to be afraid or apprehensive <feared for their lives>

— fear·er noun