fierce
pronunciation
How to pronounce fierce in British English:
UK [fɪəs]
How to pronounce fierce in American English:
US [fɪrs]
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- Adjective:
- marked by extreme and violent energy
- marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid
- ruthless in competition
- violently agitated and turbulent
Word Origin
- fierce
- fierce: [13] Fierce has not always had exclusively negative connotations of ‘aggression’, although admittedly they do go back a long way. Its source, Latin ferus (which also gave English feral) meant originally ‘wild, untamed’, but it subsequently developed the metaphorical sense ‘uncultivated, savage, cruel’. However, when English acquired the word, via Anglo-Norman fers and Old French fiers, it was used for ‘brave’ and ‘proud’ as well as ‘wildly hostile or menacing’. ‘Brave’ died out in the 16th century, although across the Channel ‘proud’ has survived to become the only sense of modern French fiers.=> feral
- fierce (adj.)
- mid-13c., "proud, noble, bold, haughty," from Old French fers, fiers, nominative form of fer, fier "strong, overwhelming, violent, fierce, wild; proud, mighty, great, impressive" (Modern French fier "proud, haughty"), from Latin ferus "wild, untamed, uncultivated; waste, desert;" figuratively "wild, uncultivated, savage, cruel," from PIE root *ghwer- "wild; wild animal" (cognates: Greek ther, Old Church Slavonic zveri, Lithuanian zveris "wild beast"). Meaning "ferocious, wild, savage, cruel" of persons is from c. 1300; of beasts from late 14c. Original English sense of "brave, proud" died out 16c., but while this sense was current fierce often was used in English as an epithet (and thus surname), which accounts for the rare instance of a French word entering English in the nominative case. Related: Fiercely; fierceness. In Middle English sometimes also "dangerous, destructive; great, strong; huge (in number)." An early 15c. medical treatise has fers benes for "wild beans."
Example
- 1. The competition for data is fierce .
- 2. Such gimmicks are common in thamel 's bars , where competition for lascivious males is fierce .
- 3. It immediately received fierce criticism from u.s. politicians as well as investors .
- 4. She knew he wanted that chestnut mare something fierce .
- 5. The filmmaker reveals in stark imagery his fierce distaste of war under any circumstances .