fearer

English

Etymology

From fear +‎ -er.

Pronunciation

Rhymes: -ɪəɹə(ɹ)

Noun

fearer (plural fearers)

One who fears, especially one who fears God; a worshipper.
- a. 1599 (date written), Mary Sidney, “Psalm CXXXV. Laudate nomen.”, in The Psalmes of David […], London: From the Chiswick Press by C[harles] Whittingham, for Robert Triphook, […], published 1823, →OCLC, page 261:
  O praise the Lord: you Levies howse, assent / To praise the Lord: you all his fearers frame / Your highest praise to praise Jehovas name.
- 1749, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, “An Account of Rich Camacho’s Wedding, and what Befel Poor Basil”, in [Peter Anthony] Motteux, transl., edited by [John] Ozell, The History of the Renowned Don Quixote de la Mancha. […], 8th edition, volume III, London: […] W[illiam] Innys, […], →OCLC, part II, page 159:
  Come Sir, reply'd Sancho, judge you of your Knight-Errantry, and don't meddle with other Men's Fears; for I am as pretty a Fearer of Heaven as any of my Neighbours; and ſo let me diſpatch this Scum, (and much Good may't do thee honeſt Sancho;) […]
- 1870, Richard Brock (author and publisher), A New Family Herbal; Or, A History and Description of All the British and Foreign Plants, 2nd Edition, page 396,
  Good advice, certainly, but the difficulty is, to be able to distinguish the real fearers of God, from those who only make a pretence to such fear.
- 2009, Poul F. Guttesen, Leaning Into the Future: The Kingdom of God in the Theology of Jürgen Moltmann and in the Book of Revelation, Pickwick Publications, page 53:
  But such fear binds the fearer and the goal is never achieved as the fearer abuses what is found today to create the tomorrow that does not exist. It becomes an illusory dream that always evades the fearer while holding him or her tightly in its tyranny.

Derived terms

God-fearer