[fe.ro.cious] adj [L feroc-, ferox, lit., fierce looking, fr. ferus + -oc-, -ox (akin to Gk ops eye)--more at eye] (1646) 1: exhibiting or given to extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality
2: extremely intense "~ heat" syn see fierce -- fe.ro.cious.ly adv -- fe.ro.cious.ness n