fear

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fear sb. XIII. ME. fēre, repr. OE. fǣr sudden calamity, danger, corr. to OS. vār ambush, MDu. vāre fear (cf. Du. gevaar danger), OHG. fāra ambush, danger, deceit (G. gefahr danger), ON. fár misfortune :- Gmc. *fǣraz, -am, -ō.
Hence fearful XIV. So fear vb. †frighten OE.; intr. and †refl. feel fear; regard with fear. XIV. OE. fǣran (more freq. in comp. āfǣran) = OS. fāron lie in wait, OHG. fārēn plot against, lie in wait, ON. færa taunt, slight. Ult. connections unkn.

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