fierce
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Middle English fers, fiers, borrowed from Old French fers (“wild", "ferocious”), nominative of fer, from Latin ferus (“wild", "untamed”).
PronunciationEdit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /fɪəs/
- (General American) IPA(key): /fɪɹs/
- (obsolete) IPA(key): /fɜː(ɹ)s/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)s
AdjectiveEdit
fierce (comparative fiercer, superlative fiercest)
- Exceedingly violent, severe, ferocious, cruel or savage.
- A fierce storm battered the coast.
- I felt a fierce loyalty to my family.
- Resolute or strenuously active.
- We made a fierce attempt to escape.
- 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
- Yet his passion for her had grown fiercer than ever, and he swore to himself that he would win her back from her phantasies. She, one may believe, was ready enough to listen.
- Threatening in appearance or demeanor.
- The lion gave a fierce roar.
- (slang, Ireland, rural) Excellent, very good.
- Q: "How was the party last night?" A: "Fierce!"
- (slang, US, LGBT, fashion) Of exceptional quality, exhibiting boldness or chutzpah.
- Tyra said to strike a pose and make it fierce.
SynonymsEdit
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
extremely violent, severe, ferocious or savage
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resolute or strenuously active
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threatening in appearance or demeanor
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
AdverbEdit
fierce (not comparable)
ReferencesEdit
- fierce at OneLook Dictionary Search
- fierce in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911