Part 4253

<h1>Fern</h1> <Xpage=553>

<hw>Fern</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>Long ago.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Fern</h1> <Xpage=553>

<hw>Fern</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>fyrn</ets>.]</ety> <def>Ancient; old. <mark>[Obs.]</mark> "Pilgrimages to . . . <i>ferne</i> halwes." [saints].</def>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Fern</h1> <Xpage=553>

<hw>Fern</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>fearn</ets>; akin to D. <ets>varen</ets>, G. <ets>farn</ets>, <ets>farn</ets>kraut; cf. Skr. <ets>par\'c9a</ets> wing, feather, leaf, sort of plant, or Lith. <ets>papartis</ets> fern.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>An order of cryptogamous plants, the <spn>Filices</spn>, which have their fructification on the back of the fronds or leaves. They are usually found in humid soil, sometimes grow epiphytically on trees, and in tropical climates often attain a gigantic size.</def>

<note>&hand; The plants are asexual, and bear clustered sporangia, containing minute spores, which germinate and form prothalli, on which are borne the true organs of reproduction. The brake or bracken, the maidenhair, and the polypody are all well known ferns.</note>

<cs><col>Christmas fern</col>. <cd>See under <er>Christmas</er>.</cd> -- <col>Climbing fern</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a delicate North American fern (<spn>Lygodium palmatum</spn>), which climbs several feet high over bushes, etc., and is much sought for purposes of decoration.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Fern owl</col>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>The European goatsucker.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>The short-eared owl.</cd> <mark>[Prov. Eng.]</mark> -- <col>Fern shaw</col></mcol>, <cd>a fern thicket. <mark>[Eng.]</mark></cd> <i>R. Browning.</i></cs>

<h1>Fernery</h1> <Xpage=553>

<hw>Fern"er*y</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A place for rearing ferns.</def>

<h1>Fernticle</h1> <Xpage=553>

<hw>Fern"ti*cle</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A freckle on the skin, resembling the seed of fern.</def> <mark>[Prov. Eng.]</mark>

<h1>Ferny</h1> <Xpage=553>

<hw>Fern"y</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Abounding in ferns.</def>

<h1>Ferocious</h1> <Xpage=553>

<hw>Fe*ro"cious</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>ferox</ets>, <ets>-ocis</ets>, fierce: cf. F. <ets>f\'82roce</ets>. See <er>Ferocity</er>.]</ety> <def>Fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous; rapacious; <as>as, <ex>ferocious</ex> look or features; a <ex>ferocious</ex> lion.</as></def>

<blockquote>The humbled power of a <b>ferocious</b> enemy. <i>Lowth.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Ferocious</er>, <er>Fierce</er>, <er>Savage</er>, <er>Barbarous</er>.</syn> <usage>When these words are applied to human feelings or conduct, <i>ferocious</i> describes the disposition; <i>fierce</i>, the haste and violence of an act; <i>barbarous</i>, the coarseness and brutality by which it was marked; <i>savage</i>, the cruel and unfeeling spirit which it showed. A man is <i>ferocious</i> in his temper, <i>fierce</i> in his actions, <i>barbarous</i> in the manner of carrying out his purposes, <i>savage</i> in the spirit and feelings expressed in his words or deeds.</usage>

-- <wordforms><wf>Fe*ro"cious*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt> -- <wf>Fe*ro"cious*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<blockquote>It [Christianity] has adapted the <b>ferociousness</b> of war. <i>Blair.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Ferocity</h1> <Xpage=553>

<hw>Fe*roc"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>ferocitas</ets>, fr. <ets>ferox</ets>, <ets>-ocis</ets>, fierce, kin to <ets>ferus</ets> wild: cf. F. <ets>ferocit\'82</ets>. See <er>Fierce</er>.]</ety> <def>Savage wildness or fierceness; fury; cruelty; <as>as, <ex>ferocity</ex> of countenance</as>.</def>

<blockquote>The pride and <b>ferocity</b> of a Highland chief. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Feroher</h1> <Xpage=553>

<hw>Fer*o"her</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Arch\'91ol.)</fld> <def>A symbol of the solar deity, found on monuments exhumed in Babylon, Nineveh, etc.</def>

<h1>Ferous</h1> <Xpage=553>