fear (n.)
Middle English fere, from Old English fær "calamity, sudden danger, peril, sudden attack," from Proto-Germanic *feraz "danger" (source also of Old Saxon far "ambush," Old Norse far "harm, distress, deception," Dutch gevaar, German Gefahr "danger"); which according to Watkins is from PIE *pēr-, a lengthened form of the verbal root *per- (3) "to try, risk."
The sense of "state of being afraid, uneasiness caused by possible danger" developed by late 12c. Some Old English words for "fear" as we now use it were fyrhto, fyrhto; as a verb, ondrædan.
The meaning "feeling of dread and reverence for God" is from c. 1400. To put the fear of God (into someone) "intimidate, cause to cower" is by 1888, from the common religious phrase; the extended use was often at first in colonial contexts:
Thus then we seek to put "the fear of God" into the natives at the point of the bayonet, and excuse ourselves for the bloody work on the plea of the benefits which we intend to confer afterwards. [Felix Adler, "The Religion of Duty," 1905]
fear (v.)
Old English færan "terrify, frighten," from a Proto-Germanic verbal form of the root of fear (n.). Cognates include Old Saxon faron "to lie in wait," Middle Dutch vaeren "to fear," Old High German faren "to plot against," Old Norse færa "to taunt."
It was long obsolete in English in the original transitive sense but has been revived with a limited range in digital gaming in reference to "fear" spells, in which use it matches nearly the old sense of "drive away by fear," attested early 15c. The intransitive meaning "feel fear" is attested from late 14c. Related: Feared; fearing.
Trends of fear
updated on July 31, 2024