| 释义 |
fierceness|ˈfɪəsnɪs|
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
The quality or condition of being fierce.
1. a. Formidable violence; intractable savageness of temper; vehement and merciless fury.
1382Wyclif 1 Macc. iv. 8 Dreede ȝe not inwardli the feersnesse of hem. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xviii. (1495) 123 Yf [the] chynne [of beestes] be broke all theyr cruelnes and fyersnes faylle. 1462Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 268 God smote the said Henry for his gret fersnesse. 1526Tindale Eph. iv. 31 Bitternes, fearsnes [θυµός], and wrath. 1553Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 15 The females are of greater fiercenesse then the males. 1695Ld. Preston Boeth. ii. 74 note, The Fierceness of the People being not wholly subdued. 1712Swift Proposal Corr. Eng. Tongue 27 The same Defect of Heat which gives a Fierceness to our Natures, may contribute to that Roughness of our Language. 1865Kingsley Herew. xxi, The priest looked at him with something of honest fierceness in his eyes. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 288 He is like a wild beast, all violence and fierceness.
†b. Sternness, severity. Obs.
1382Wyclif Rom. xi. 22 Therfore se..the feersnesse of God; sothli feersnesse into hem that felden doun. c1400Apol. Loll. 17 Þe fersnes be noþer to mikil ne to litil. 1643Milton Divorce Introd., To..pacify the fiercenes of this gentle Ordinance.
†c. Bravery, high-spirit, mettle. Obs.
c1400Destr. Troy 4825 The fame of our fuersnes fares abrode. c1489Caxton Blanchardyn iii. 18 The fyersnes of the sayd courser. 1692E. Walker Epictetus' Mor. xxxi, Who..admires the..manly Fierceness that adorns his Face.
d. Eagerness. † Const. to with inf.
1533Bellenden Livy i. (1822) 73 That uthir limmare..for fersnes to fle, left the ax stikkand in the kingis hede.
2. Of natural agents, disease; also of passions, conflict, etc.: Intense vehemence, furious activity.
1435Misyn Fire of Love i. xxvii. 58 Grete ferisnes of turmentis. 1541R. Copland Galyen's Terapeutyke 2 C ij, Lay vpon the sayd vlceres a playster..vntyll that the yre and fyersnesse be abated. 1665Manley Grotius' Low C. Warres 355 It proved very dangerous by the fierceness of the Frost and cold. 1718Rowe tr. Lucan vii. 1040 They..curse the cruel Gods, in fierceness of Despair. 1885Manch. Exam. 29 June 5/2 The present fierceness of trade competition throughout the world. 1891E. Peacock N. Brendon I. 271 The fierceness of the storm was over. |