Search the Dictionary

a hawk upon the wing to recover herself, when she misses her aim in the stoop. [Obs.] The fierce and eager hawks, down thrilling from the skies, Make sundry canceliers are they the fowl can reach. Drayton.

ome by some secret power, or by that which gives pleasure; to allay; to soothe. Music the fiercest grief can charm. Pope.

the bit. The trampling steed, with gold and purple trapped, Chawing the foamy bit, there fiercely stood. Surrey.

To strike together so as to produce a ringing metallic sound. The fierce Caretes . . . clanged their sounding arms. Prior.

To run together; to meet. [Obs.] Anon they fierce encountering both concurred With grisly looks and faces like their fates. J. Hughes.

dispute; to argue. The question which our author would contend for. Locke. Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial. Dr. H. More.

urper and another. Hallam. It was fully expected that the contest there would be long and fierce. Macaulay.

rief, or misery. Cruel wars, wasting the earth. Milton. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath for it was cruel. Gen. xlix. 7.

A blow; esp.,, a blow with the open hand; a box; a slap. Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies; Who well it wards, and quitten cuff with cuff. Spenser. Many a bitter kick and cuff. Hudibras.

ch comes next in order after the dagger. -- To look, or speak, daggers, to look or speak fiercely or reproachfully.

. . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore. R. of Gloucester. But question fierce and proud reply Gave signal soon of dire debate. Sir W. Scott.

Strong; powerful; fierce. [Obs.] -- Derf"ly, adv. [Obs.]

A fierce, wild dog (Canis Dukhunensis), found in the mountains of India. It is remarkable for its propensity to hunt the tiger and other wild animals in packs.

To fight like gladiators; to contend fiercely; to dispute violently. [Obs.] Digladiating like Æschines and Demosthenes. Hales.

r language; ill manners; manifestation of disrespect; incivility. Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes Error a fault, and truth discourtesy. Herbert.

d one day in doubtful fight. Milton. The strife between the two principles had been long, fierce, and doubtful. Macaulay.

A fierce, violent person, esp. a woman. Johnson.

To rush and press with violence; to move furiously. Fierce Boreas drove against his flying sails. Dryden. Under cover of the night and a driving tempest. Prescott. Time driveth onward fast, And in a little while our lips are dumb. Tennyson.

Like a wild beast; fierce. [Obs.]

with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a bloody encounter. As one for . . . fierce encounters fit. Spenser. To join their dark encounter in mid-air. Milton .