Fear

[A. S. fær, fear; afæran, to frighten; Ger. gefahr, danger; akin to Lat. vereri, to be afraid.] Apprehension of approaching evil, danger, or death; solicitude; dread; terror. - The source, cause, or ocсаsion of danger; apprehension or alarm. - Apprehension of incurring the anger of God; feeling of awe and reverence toward the Supreme Being; due regard to the law and word of God; as, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Prov. ix. 10. ( Med .) This operation upon the mind is often, if uncorrected, attended with the most serious consequences where sickne is present or disease expected. On many persons the influence of fear is far more serious in its effect than the worst form of the dreaded malady. In all epidemic diseases, particularly plague and cholera, the terror inspired by either scourge has been quite as fatal as the infection, - paralyzing the system, and robbing the body of the natural elasticity of its nervous stamina, and the mind of the buoyancy of hope, mak ing voluntary victims of those who, from age and -v. n. To eat sumptuously; to eat together on a day of strength, had the best probability of escaping. There are few medical men who have not had cases of smallpox, where the patient, by his own alarm, has produced the disease, and where no direct contagion to excite it was po ible. Fear is a mental poison, and the most potent of all antagonists to health and medicine; and gives splendid banquets. as faith has cured more diseases than physicians ever Feast'erville, in Pennsylvania , a P. O. of Bucks co. prescribed for, so fear is more destructive than the worst Feast'ful, a . Festive; joyful; as, "his feastful friend." form of contagion. joy; To dine or sup on rich or rare provisions. "Our church-wardens feast on the silver, and give us the farthings." - Gay. Feast'-day, n. A holiday; a day of festivity. Feast'er, n. One who fares sumptuously; one who Fear, v . a . To dread; to consider with apprehension or -Luxurious; riotous. terror; as, "I fear not death." - Dryden. -To affright; to terrify; to make afraid. -To be anxious or solicitous for. -v. n To live in horror; to be afraid; to feel an appre- hension, as of some impending evil; to expect with emotions of alarm or solicitude. Fear'er, n. One who fears or dreads. Fearful, a. Timorous; timid; easily made afraid; as, "he's gentle and not fearful ." - Shaks. -Awful; to be dreaded; terrible; frightful; impre ing fear. IMG:content-0133.png:[blocks in formation]