fiercen.
Heraldry.
Apparently a typographical error for tierce n.1In the 1634 edition of quot. 1612 the error is extended to all three forms in the sentence.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > charge: device on shield > [noun] > charge of simplest or commonest kind > vertical band in middle of shield
palec1460
fierce1612
1612 H. Peacham Graphice iii. 154 This [sc. the Pale] in ancient time was called a tierce [sic], and you should then haue blazed it thus, hee beares a fierce Sables betweene two fierces.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2022).
fierceadj.
/fɪəs/, U.S. /fɪ(ə)rs/ 1. Of formidably violent and intractable temper, like a wild beast; vehement and merciless in anger or hostility.Less emphatic, and less associated with the notion of wanton cruelty, than ferocious adj., which was never used, like this word, in a good sense (see 2).absolute.1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. ii, in Lamia & Other Poems 181 Thus wording timidly among the fierce.absolute.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 888 So þe fuerse by-flamede all with fyre hote.
a. of persons, their dispositions or attributes.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > savagery > [adjective]
grimlyc893
retheeOE
grim971
bitterOE
bremec1175
grillc1175
grimfula1240
cruel1297
sturdy1297
fiercea1300
fellc1300
boistousa1387
felonousc1386
savagea1393
bestiala1398
bremelya1400
felona1400
hetera1400
cursedc1400
wicked14..
vengeablec1430
wolvishc1430
unnatural?1473
inhuman1481
brutisha1513
cruent1524
felonish1530
mannish1530
abominate1531
lionish1549
boarish?1550
truculent?c1550
unhumanc1550
lion-like1556
beastly1558
orped1567
raw?1573
tigerish?1573
unmanlike1579
boisterous1581
savaged1583
tiger-like1587
yond1590
truculental1593
savage wild1595
tigerous1597
inhumane1598
Neronian1598
immane1599
Phalarical1602
ungentle1603
feral1604
savagious1605
fierceful1607
Dionysian1608
wolvy1611
Hunnish1625
lionly1631
tigerly1633
savage-hearted1639
brutal1641
feroce1641
ferocious1646
asperous1650
ferousa1652
wolfish1674
tiger1763
savage-fierce1770
Tartar1809
Tartarly1821
Neroic1851
tigery1859
Neronic1864
unmannish1867
inhumanitarian1947
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > fierceness > [adjective]
grimlyc893
wrothc893
reighOE
grima1000
grillc1175
witherc1175
grimfula1240
sturdy1297
wild1297
fiercea1300
man-keenc1300
stoutc1300
cruelc1330
fell?c1335
wicked1375
felonousc1386
felona1400
cursedc1400
runishc1400
keen?c1425
roid?c1425
wolvishc1430
ranishc1450
malicious1485
mankind1519
mannish1530
lionish1549
truculent?c1550
lion-like1556
tigerish?1573
tiger-like1587
truculental1593
Amazonian1595
tigerous1597
feral1604
fierceful1607
efferous1614
lionly1631
tigerly1633
feroce1641
ferocious1646
asperous1650
ferousa1652
blusterous1663
wolfish1674
boarisha1718
savage-fierce1770
Tartar1809
Tartarly1821
wolfy1828
savagerous1832
hawkish1841
tigery1859
attern1868
Hunnish1915
a1300 Cursor Mundi 2197 Nembrot..was fers, prud, and fell.
c1374 G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite 1 Yow fiers god of armes Mars the rede.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. biij/2 Hys syght and regarde fyers & malycyous.
1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome i. f. 10v With countenaunce ferce and grim.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. v. 28 A Souldier..not fierce and terrible Onely in strokes. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 44 Moloc..the fiercest Spirit That fought in Heav'n; now fiercer by despair. View more context for this quotation
1712 A. Pope Rape of Locke ii, in Misc. Poems 364 Tyrants fierce that unrepenting die.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. iii. 62 Turning upon him with a fierce and haughty look.
1812 J. Wilson Isle of Palms ii. 578 Fierce savage men Glare on them.
1855 C. M. Yonge Cameos xxxv, in Monthly Packet Nov. 328 Hugh Lupus, the fierce old Earl of Chester, was likewise a Lord Marcher.
b. of animals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by nature > [adjective] > wild or vicious
wildc725
wrothOE
keenOE
ramagec1300
fell?c1335
furiousc1374
fierce1377
ramageousa1398
eagerc1405
savage1447
naughtyc1460
criminal1477
ill1480
shrewd1509
mankind1519
roidc1540
mad1565
horn-mad1579
fierceful1607
man-keen1607
indomite1617
fellish1638
ferocious1646
ferousa1652
ferinea1676
kwaai1827
skelm1827
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xv. 300 God sent hem fode bi foules and by no fierse bestes.
a1400–50 Alexander 3922 A beste..Fere fersere þan an olifaunt.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie xlvii. 281 Swine..bee not so fearce as to fall to rending downe of the tree.
1611 Bible (King James) Job x. 16 Thou huntest me as a fierce Lion. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 144 Fierce Tygers couch'd around. View more context for this quotation
1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 254 Poetry disarms The fiercest animals with magic charms.
1874 J. C. Geikie Life in Woods (ed. 2) v. 84 It is amazing how fierce some of the small snakes are.
c. Of things: forceful; acting strongly or violently.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adjective]
retheeOE
hotOE
strongOE
woodlyc1000
un-i-rideOE
stoura1122
brathc1175
unridec1175
unrudec1225
starklyc1275
toughc1275
wood1297
ragec1330
unrekena1350
biga1375
furialc1386
outrageousc1390
savagea1393
violenta1393
bremelya1400
snarta1400
wrothlya1400
fightingc1400
runishc1400
dour?a1425
derfc1440
churlousa1450
roida1450
fervent1465
churlish1477
orgulous1483
felona1500
brathfula1522
brathlya1525
fanatic1533
furious1535
boisterous1544
blusterous1548
ungentle1551
sore1563
full-mouthed1594
savage wild1595
Herculean1602
shrill1608
robustious1612
efferous1614
thundering1618
churly1620
ferocient1655
turbulent1656
efferate1684
knock-me-down1760
haggard-wild1786
ensanguined1806
rammish1807
fulminatory1820
riproarious1830
natural1832
survigrous1835
sabre-toothed1849
cataclysmal1861
thunderous1874
fierce1912
cataractal1926
1912 Motor Man. (ed. 14) 166 Complaints are occasionally made of what is called a ‘fierce’ clutch. In other words, the clutch will not slide or slip in, but permits the engine to take hold suddenly, and almost takes the starting control from the driver's hands.
1961 Listener 7 Dec. 1007/1 If your oven is inclined to be ‘fierce’, you may find it best to tie a band of folded brown paper round the outside of the tin.
1971 ‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Doctor Bird viii. 113 The brake was fiercer than I expected, but the thing was stable enough.
d. figurative. Characterized by wild or brutal conduct, manners, etc.
ΚΠ
1923 R. S. Frampton's Catal. Old Fierce Novel.—Paul Periwinkle, or the Pressgang.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > spirit > high-spiritedness > [adjective]
moodyOE
fierce1297
jollyc1330
fieryc1430
high-stomached1546
stout-stomached1549
hearteda1552
generous1581
high-spirited1588
high-hearteda1625
high-mettleda1626
high1649
fire-souled1823
gingery1823
stomachy1896
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 3910 Al so þe dosse pers Of france were þer echon þat so noble were & fers.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 101 Be þay fers, be þay feble for-lotez none.
1475 Bk. Noblesse 2 Next after came the feers manly Danysh nacion.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. dv/2 Oliuer was so fyers of fayt.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lv. 185 Our man is fyers and of gret hardynes.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) F viij A lusty horse fyerse and flingyng.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > [adjective]
overmoodeOE
highlyOE
overmoodOE
overmoodyOE
orgelc1175
dangerous?c1225
orgula1275
orgulousc1275
fiercec1290
hautain1297
highfulc1325
squeamousc1325
deignousc1330
digne1340
disdainousc1374
sirlya1375
lordlyc1390
high-hearteda1398
haught1430
haut1430
coppedc1449
excellentc1450
fastidious?a1475
loftyc1485
dain?1507
hichty1513
stiff-necked1526
supercilious1528
haughty1530
taunt?a1534
disdainfula1542
high in the instep1555
skeighc1560
queen-like?1571
surlyc1572
stately1579
coy1581
paughtya1586
steya1586
disdained1598
dortya1605
lordlike1605
overly1606
magnatical1608
stiff1608
surly-borne1609
high-sighted1610
lofty-minded1611
sublimed1611
patronizing1619
lording1629
sublimated1634
cavaliering1642
uncondescending1660
nose-in-the-air1673
sidy1673
fastuose1674
uncondescensive1681
condescending1707
stiff-rumped1728
fastidiose1730
cavalier1751
ogertful1754
pawky1809
supercilian1825
splendid1833
touch-me-not1852
pincé1858
high-stepping1867
eyeglassy1871
sniffy1871
cavalierly1876
snifty1889
Olympian1900
ritzy1920
mugwumpish1923
blasé1930
stiff-arsed1937
nose-high1939
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 272/34 With grete nobleye; swyþe fierce and proute.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) i. xlix. 30 But of yow j haue no neede; haue your herte neuere þe more feers.
c1450 ABC of Aristotle (Lamb. 853) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 11 [Not] to fers, ne to famuler, but freendli of cheere.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. viii. 45 He is fierce, and cannot brooke hard Language. View more context for this quotation
4. Of natural forces, e.g. fire, wind, etc.; also of passion, disease, conflict, persecution, etc.: Angry, violent, vehemently raging.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > violent emotion > [adjective]
violentc1475
vehementa1492
frantic?1531
vehement1548
fierce1611
wilda1616
transportive1622
the mind > emotion > anger > furious anger > [adjective] > furiously angry
grim971
aweddeOE
woodlyc1000
anburstc1275
woodc1275
aburstc1300
eagerc1325
brotheful1330
brothely1330
furiousc1374
wroth as (the) wind1377
throc1380
fella1382
wrothlya1400
grindelc1400
raginga1425
furibund1490
bremit1535
outraging1567
fulminant?1578
wood-like1578
horn-mad1579
snuff1582
woodful1582
maddeda1586
rageful1585
furibundal1593
gary1609
fierce1611
wild1653
infuriate1667
hopping mad1675
maddened1735
sulphureous1751
savage1789
infuriated1796
bouncing mad1834
frenzy1859
furyinga1861
ropeable1870
furied1878
fulminous1886
livid1888
fit to be tied1894
hopping1894
fighting mad1896
tamping mad1946
up the wall1951
ravers1967
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 436 Saue a fers feintise folwes me oft.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 1854 Aboute fyue moneþes hit stode Wiþouten falling þat fers flode.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 23239 Þa dintes er ful fers and fell.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 4579 Persecucioun fers and fell.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos lxii. 162 The bataylle was fyerse.
1508 Bp. J. Fisher Wks. (1876) 279 The assautes of deth was fyers and sharpe.
?a1521 R. Arnold Chron. (c1525) sig. Ci The duke of burgon..was dryuen in to england with a ferse streynable wynde.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 569 Flamys of fyre han so furse hete.
1611 Bible (King James) Jer. xxv. 37 The fierce anger of the Lord. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 6 The..Locusts..fry'd with Heat, and I with fierce Desire.
1713 A. Pope Ode Musick 7 Musick the fiercest Griefs can charm.
1740 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (rev. ed.) App. p. xxxiv If the rocket burst as soon as it is lighted, then the charge is too fierce.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 173 A mind heated by a fierce conflict.
1863 W. C. Bryant Little People in Poems 289 Cruel we, Who suffered her to wander forth alone In this fierce cold!
1874 E. O. M. Deutsch Lit. Remains 419 Two centuries and a half of fierce discussion.
5.
a. Ardent, eager; full of violent desire; furiously zealous or active. †Const. for, to, upon, and to with infinitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > zeal or enthusiasm > [adjective]
needfulOE
anguishous?c1225
eager?a1300
throc1330
fierce1377
desirousc1386
affectuousa1400
yeverousa1400
inwardc1402
earnestful?1406
rathe?c1450
zealing1459
increc1480
affectual1483
zealous1526
affectioneda1533
jealous1535
heartyc1540
affectivec1550
earnest1563
pricking1575
forward1587
affectionate1598
passiveless1602
zealful1602
full-hearteda1616
wholehearted1644
intense1645
high1649
covetous1652
thorough-hearted1656
keen as mustard1659
fell1667
fervent1673
smirk1674
zealed1679
prest1697
strenuous1713
enthusiastic1741
enthusiastical1755
whole-souled1821
con amore1828
lyrical1875
mustard1919
gung ho1942
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > vehement or passionate desire > [adjective] > vehemently or passionately desirous
wildc725
ardentc1374
fierce1377
flagrant?1521
zealous1526
passionatea1530
heady1543
concupiscentious1555
passionative1593
luxurious1614
mada1627
concupitive1651
sultry1671
hot-tempered1673
ardurousa1770
wild1811
nympholeptic1818
concupiscenta1834
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. v. 67 To affaiten hire flesshe þat fierce was to synne.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 7260 For to gyue she was full fers.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid x. vii. 102 He on cace was fleand fers as flynt.
1602 B. Jonson Poetaster v. iii. sig. L2 And Lupus, for your fierce Credulity, One fit him with a paire of larger Eares. View more context for this quotation
1654 E. Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 149 He is..fierce for the Duke of Gloucesters returne.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. iv. 239 One of the Fiercest men of the Party.
1702 Eng. Theophrastus 314 It is not good to be over fierce upon anything.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. viii. 562 Vengeful slaughter, fierce for human blood.
1871 R. Browning Balaustion 111 The feast was fierce But brief.
1874 J. Morley On Compromise 90 The..fiercest hunt after the grosser prizes.
b. dialect. Brisk, lively, vigorous.
ΚΠ
1877 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. ‘If thoo's so fierce ower thee work i' th' mornin' thoo'll be dauled oot afore neet.’
1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) ‘Ah'm glad to see ye luke so feece todee.’
1886 R. E. G. Cole Gloss. Words S.-W. Lincs. ‘Oh, they were fierce; they were as merry as crickets.’
c. Outrageous. U.S. slang.
ΚΠ
a1906 ‘O. Henry’ Trimmed Lamp 6 How can you wear a waist like that, Lou?.. It shows fierce taste.
a1906 ‘O. Henry’ Trimmed Lamp 210 But it's fierce, now, how cynical I am, ain't it?
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [adjective] > of number: great
fiercec1540
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1617 Fuerse was þe nowmber Of lordes of þe lond.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 2271 So fele fightyng folke be a fuerse nowmber.
7. quasi-adv.= fiercely; (also) violently (U.S. slang).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > [adverb] > violently
stoura1300
hardc1330
fiercea1400
strainably1511
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adverb]
strongeOE
hotOE
unsoftOE
snellya1000
stitha1000
stronglyOE
woodlyc1000
hatelyOE
unridelyc1175
wood1297
mainlyc1300
dreec1330
spackly?c1335
brothelyc1340
bremelya1375
fiercelya1375
violentlya1387
throlyc1390
roughlya1400
snarplya1400
unrekenlya1400
dreichlyc1400
ranklyc1400
witherlyc1400
maliciouslya1450
fervently1480
roidlyc1480
thrafully1535
vehement?1541
toughly1589
sickerly1596
vengeously1599
virulently1599
rageously1600
ragefullya1631
churlishly1657
improbously1657
rampantly1698
fierce1771
savagerous1832
fulgurantly1873
franticly1883
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1765 Þe rain it fell sua fers and fast.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. i. 14 Mid-day Sunne, fierce bent against their faces. View more context for this quotation
1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. IV. 164 The war..continued to rage as fierce as ever.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 102 The war, which was now all but extinguished, might blaze forth fiercer than ever.
1927 H. Rose in Atlantic Monthly Mar. 338 I broke a finger on my right hand. It ached fierce.
Compounds
General attributive. C1. Parasynthetic.
fierce-eyed adj.
ΚΠ
1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets vii. 227 They will slay me, those..Fierce-eyed..dread goddesses.
1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda IV. vii. liv. 110 A fierce-eyed temptation.
fierce-faced adj.
ΚΠ
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 21 Jan. 3/1 These..fierce-faced beasts, with their noiseless footfall.
fierce-fanged adj.
ΚΠ
1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick xlii. 209 The fierce-fanged tiger in his heraldic coat.
fierce-minded adj.
ΚΠ
1785 Cruttwell Bible, 3 Macc. vi. 18 Forgetfulness seized his fierce-minded confidence.
fierce-natured adj.
ΚΠ
1675 tr. W. Camden Hist. Princess Elizabeth (rev. ed.) ii. 246 This Parsons was..a violent, fierce-natur'd man.
C2. Adverbial.
fierce-descending adj.
ΚΠ
1736 J. Thomson Prospect: 5th Pt. Liberty 45 By..No fierce-descending wolf..Disturb'd.
fierce-flaming adj.
ΚΠ
1740 C. Pitt tr. Virgil Æneid II. xii. 622 His Eyes, fierce-flaming, o'er the Trophy roll.
fierce-looking adj.
ΚΠ
a1859 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. (1861) V. 23 Accosted by fierce-looking captains.
fierce-menacing adj.
ΚΠ
1735 W. Somervile Chace iii. 302 Another pard..Grins..fierce-menacing.
fierce-rushing adj.
ΚΠ
1726 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey V. xxiii. 75 A Boar fierce-rushing in the sylvan war.
fierce-trotted adj.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > savagery > [noun]
rethenesseOE
grimcundleȝcc1175
fellhead1340
ferteec1380
fiercenessc1384
savagenessa1400
grimliness14..
fellnessc1410
bestialitya1413
fierceheadc1440
cruelness?a1475
inhumanity1477
bremeness?1529
fury1534
tigerness1535
bruteness1538
immanity1539
wolvishness?1548
ferity?c1550
brutishness1567
truculency1569
Phalarism1581
ferocity1606
savagerya1616
brutality1633
inhumanness1649
wolfishness1676
boarishness1682
brutism1687
truculence1727
ferociousness1766
bestialism1824
tigerhood1846
Calibanism1859
unhumanness1885
inhumanism1907
Hunnishness1914
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > fierceness > [noun]
grimcundleȝcc1175
fellhead1340
ferteec1380
fiercetya1382
fiercenessc1384
grimliness14..
fellnessc1410
fierceheadc1440
grillc1450
cruelness?a1475
tigerness1535
wolvishness?1548
ferity?c1550
truculency1569
cursedness1589
ferocity1606
wolfishness1676
boarishness1682
brutishness1683
truculence1727
ferociousness1766
tiger1825
tigerhood1846
Hunnishness1914
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 156/2 Fercehede, ferocitas, severitas.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† fiercev.
Obsolete.
transitive. To make fierce; to inflame.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > furious anger > infuriate [verb (transitive)]
anangeredc1380
enfelon1477
ournc1540
fierce1565
enrage1589
effierce1590
eneager1594
rage1597
ferocitate1666
infuriate1667
madden1720
frenzy1810
furify1872
burn1935
send (someone) up the wall1951
1565 A. Golding tr. Ovid Fyrst Fower Bks. Metamorphosis iii. f. 4v And for too fierce her ire, A nother thing..there commeth in the nicke.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.1612
adj.c1290v.1565