n.
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English fer, from Old English f ǣ r sudden danger; akin to Old High German f ā ra ambush and perhaps to Latin periculum attempt, peril, Greek peiran to attempt
Date: 12th century
1 a : an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger b (1) : an instance of this emotion (2) : a state marked by this emotion
2 : anxious concern : SOLICITUDE
3 : profound reverence and awe especially toward God
4 : reason for alarm : DANGER
synonyms FEAR , DREAD , FRIGHT , ALARM , PANIC , TERROR , TREPIDATION mean painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger. FEAR is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage < fear of the unknown>. DREAD usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety <faced the meeting with dread >. FRIGHT implies the shock of sudden, startling fear < fright at being awakened suddenly>. ALARM suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger <view the situation with alarm >. PANIC implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity <the news caused widespread panic >. TERROR implies the most extreme degree of fear <immobilized with terror >. TREPIDATION adds to DREAD the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation <raised the subject with trepidation >.