FIERCE

adjective (~r; ~st) Etymology: Middle English fiers, from Anglo-French fer, fers, fiers, from Latin ferus wild, savage; akin to Greek thēr wild animal Date: 14th century 1. violently hostile or aggressive in temperament, given to fighting or killing ; pugnacious , 2. marked by unrestrained zeal or vehemence , extremely vexatious, disappointing, or intense , furiously active or determined , wild or menacing in appearance, ~ness noun Synonyms: see: ~