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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fere, Feir, n.³ Also: fer, feyr. [ME. feer(e, fere, OE. fǽr.] Fear, dread.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1600.
Hir feres sobrand c1475 Wall. ix. 266.
The toun was sone in till a sudane fer 1490 Irland Mir. I. 125/16.
Our redempcioune … is maid … nocht be maner of dreid, of boste or of fere 1533 Bell. Livy I. 247/25.
He tuke sic fere, that he persewit na forthir(b) c1475 Wall. xi. 1116.
With sorow sone thow mon bene set in feyr c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvii. 32.
Had he of man als litill feir As he hes dreid that God him see 1513 Doug. i. vii. 80.
Away with dreid, and tak na langar feir Ib. ii. ii. 97.
The north wynd onsoft Held thame abak, in angwys and in feir 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 249.
Thay ar all in deidly feyr and wald randyr bagsaif and livis and nocht to be haldin as presonaris 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 50.
Putting feir to the regent that he could not returne in Scotland with his lyff 1596 Highland P. I. 170.
The Bishop tuke a feir & send the contract be the berar c1650 Spalding II. 294.
This vncouth act … bred gryte feir and perturbatioun

b. In the phrases but or without(in) fere, for fere.(1) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 370.
On fute freschly thai frekis foundis but feir 1513 Doug. x. x. 23.
The tother, but feir, Buyr at hym mychtyly with a lang speir 1545 Acts II. 461/1.
That tha may all rys … without ony fer … to resist our auld inymyis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2021.
Withouttin feir of God or man His conquessing thus he began 1596 Dalr. II. 108/13.
Hardilie but feir tha cum against Striueling Ib. 437/2.
At the altar he stude vnabaset without al feir(2) a1500 Henr. III. 150/10.
For feir my longis wes flaft c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 19.
For feir he chaingit hew Ib. lxix. 41.
For feir of this all day I drowp 1516 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 163.
Nother for fere nor fauour lufe nor hatrent 1533 Bell. Livy I. 147/15.
Every gudis … for fere of his army war brocht within Rome 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 26.
For feir of the quhilk the erll of Arrane … fled a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 341.
I was affrayit to mynt so heych For feir to gett ane fall 1627–8 Peebles B. Rec. 415.
For fywe foddome of cordis to fessone the ledderis for feir the watter had taine thame away