fear
UK: fɪə | US: fɪr
n. an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm
vt. to be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or harmful
The word "fear" traces back to Old English fǣr, meaning "danger" or "sudden calamity," reflecting its early association with immediate threats. Over time, its meaning broadened to encompass the emotional response to such threats. Unlike many modern English words, "fear" is monomorphic—it cannot be broken into smaller meaningful units (prefix/root/suffix) without losing its original spelling integrity. Its compact structure is typical of Old English residue words, which often resist morpheme segmentation.
Her fear of heights made climbing the tower impossible.
The loud noise filled the child with fear.
They fear the consequences of failing the exam.
Fear spread through the village as the storm approached.
He tried to hide his fear behind a confident smile.