fear

fear [fir]

n.

[ME fer < OE fær, lit., sudden attack, akin to OHG fāra, ambush, snare: for IE base see PERIL]

1. a feeling of anxiety and agitation caused by the presence or nearness of danger, evil, pain, etc.; timidity; dread; terror; fright; apprehension

2. respectful dread; awe; reverence

3. a feeling of uneasiness or apprehension; concern [a fear that it will rain]

4. a cause for fear; possibility; chance [there was no fear of difficulty]

vt.

1. Obs. to fill with fear; frighten

2. to be afraid of; dread

3. to feel reverence or awe for

4. to expect with misgiving; suspect [I fear I am late]

vi.

1. to feel fear; be afraid

2. to be uneasy, anxious, or doubtful

——————

for fear of

in order to avoid or prevent; lest

SYN.- FEAR is the general term for the anxiety and agitation felt at the presence of danger; DREAD refers to the fear or depression felt in anticipating something dangerous or disagreeable [to live in dread of poverty ]; FRIGHT applies to a sudden, shocking, usually momentary fear [the mouse gave her a fright]; ALARM implies the fright felt at the sudden realization of danger [he felt alarm at the sight of the pistol ]; TERROR applies to an overwhelming, often paralyzing fear [the terror of soldiers in combat ]; PANIC¹ refers to a frantic, unreasoning fear, often one that spreads quickly and leads to irrational, aimless action [the cry of “fire!” created a panic]