Fear \Fear\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feared; p. pr. & vb. n. Fearing.]

[OE. feren, faeren, to frighten, to be afraid, AS. f?ran to terrify. See Fear, n.]

1. To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude.

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. --Ps. xxiii. 4.

Note: With subordinate clause.

I greatly fear my money is not safe. --Shak.

I almost fear to quit your hand. --D. Jerrold.

2. To have a reverential awe of; to solicitous to avoid the displeasure of.

Leave them to God above; him serve and fear. --Milton.

3. To be anxious or solicitous for. [R.]

The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore . . . I fear you. --Shak.

4. To suspect; to doubt. [Obs.]

Ay what else, fear you not her courage? --Shak.

5. To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by fear. [Obs.]

fear their people from doing evil. --Robynsin (More's utopia).

Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs. --Shak.

Syn: To apprehend; dread; reverence; venerate.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)