ferine
[feer-ahyn, -in]
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Origin of ferine
1530–40; < Latin ferīnus, equivalent to fer(a) a wild animal (noun use of feminine of ferus wild) + -īnus -ine1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
unrelentingbarbarousmurderousruthlessatrociousinhumanbrutalbloodyfierceviolentcold-bloodedsadisticferociousdestructiverelentlessmercilessharshinhumanesavagerudeExamples from the Web for ferine
Historical Examples
They are now begun by first throwing a mob into a panic; they are ended only when it has spent its ferine fury.
In Defense of WomenH. L. Mencken
He crouched like a beast, ferine—all the obscure and diabolic passion of him ready to spring.
Where the Pavement EndsJohn Russell
The only ferine companions we now had were a few hardy quadrupeds and birds, capable of enduring the winter.
ferine
Word Origin
C17: from Latin ferīnus, of wild animals, from fera wild beast
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for ferine
adj.
1630s, from Latin ferinus "pertaining to wild animals," from fera "wild beast" (see fierce).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper