■ adjective ( ~r , ~st ) violent or aggressive; ferocious.
↘intense: ~ opposition.
↘(of a mechanism) having a powerful abruptness of action.
Phrases
something ~ N. Amer. informal to a great extent.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. fiers '~, brave', from L. ferus 'untamed'.