The Collaborative International Dictionary
Fear \Fear\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feared (f[=e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Fearing.] [OE. feren, faeren, to frighten, to be afraid, AS. f[=ae]ran to terrify. See Fear, n.]
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To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude.
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
--Ps. xxiii. 4.Note: With subordinate clause.
I greatly fear my money is not safe.
--Shak.I almost fear to quit your hand.
--D. Jerrold. -
To have a reverential awe of; to be solicitous to avoid the displeasure of.
Leave them to God above; him serve and fear.
--Milton. -
To be anxious or solicitous for; now replaced by fear for. [R.]
The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore . . . I fear you.
--Shak. -
To suspect; to doubt. [Obs.]
Ay what else, fear you not her courage?
--Shak. -
To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by fear. [Obs.]
Fear their people from doing evil.
--Robynson (More's Utopia).Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.
--Shak.Syn: To apprehend; dread; reverence; venerate.
Usage examples of "fear for".
The Flib, whatever horror that was, held fear for the unie, but probably was so alien it would have no effect on the human race.
She felt a tightening in her chest, pure fear for two thousand Texas boys out there in deep space on a fool's errand.
Later she claimed that the mental intimidation from her dominant twin, plus the trauma of childhood abuse, not forgetting her fear for her own child, had combined to bring her to this point almost without any conscious thought.
Where she had shown no fear for herself, anxiety was plainly visible in her face for Doc.