- Fierceness
- Fierce Fierce, a. [Compar. {Fiercer}; superl. {Fiercest}.]
[OE. fers, fiers, OF. fier, nom. fiers, fierce, savage,
cruel, F. fier proud, from L. ferus wild, savage, cruel;
perh. akin to E. bear the animal. Cf. {Feral}, {Ferocity}.]
1. Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as, a fierce
wind.
[1913 Webster]
His fierce thunder drove us to the deep. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or injure; of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious. ``A fierce whisper.'' --Dickens. ``A fierce tyrant.'' --Pope. [1913 Webster]
The fierce foe hung upon our broken rear. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Thou huntest me as a fierce lion. --Job. x. 16. [1913 Webster]
3. Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent.
Syn: Ferocious; savage; cruel; vehement; impetuous; barbarous; fell. See {Ferocious}. -- {Fierce"ly}, adv. -- {Fierce"ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.