fere

English

Alternative forms

• pheer

Etymology

Old English (Northumbrian) fǣra, aphetic form of ġefēra ( > Middle English y-fere).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fɪə/, X-SAMPA: /fI@/

Noun

fere (plural feres)

1. (dialectal or obsolete) A companion, comrade or friend.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book V:

     they swange oute their swerdis and slowe of noble men of armys mo than an hondred – and than they rode ayen to theire ferys.

2. (archaic) A spouse; an animal's mate.
   • 1830, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, ‘Supposed Confessions of a Second-Rate Sensitive Mind’:

     The lamb rejoiceth in the year, / And raceth freely with his fere, / And answers to his mother’s calls / From the flower’d furrow.

Derived terms

• ferede

Anagrams

• free
• reef

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Latin

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *dʰer-o- (“tight, close by”), a derivative of *dʰer- (“to hold”), whence also firmus, fermē.

Adverb

ferē (not comparable)

1. Closely, quite, entirely, fully, altogether, just.
2. In general, generally, usually, commonly, for most of the time.

References

• fere in Charlton T. Lewis & Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1879

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Old French

Etymology

Latin faciō.

Verb

fere

1. Alternative form of faire.
   • circa 1180,, Chrétien de Troyes, Perceval ou le conte du Graal:

     Sire, vostre prisoniers sui
     por fere ce que vos voldroiz

     Sire, I am your prisoner
     To do what you desire

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Portuguese

Verb

fere

1. third-person singular present indicative of ferir
2. second-person singular imperative of ferir