• adj. 兇猛的；猛烈的；暴躁的
• n. (Fierce)人名；(英)菲爾斯

詞源同feral, ferocity.

fierce

fierce: [13] Fierce has not always had exclusively negative connotations of ‘aggression’, although admittedly they do go back a long way. Its source, Latin ferus (which also gave English feral) meant originally ‘wild, untamed’, but it subsequently developed the metaphorical sense ‘uncultivated, savage, cruel’. However, when English acquired the word, via Anglo-Norman fers and Old French fiers, it was used for ‘brave’ and ‘proud’ as well as ‘wildly hostile or menacing’. ‘Brave’ died out in the 16th century, although across the Channel ‘proud’ has survived to become the only sense of modern French fiers.
=> feral

fierce (adj.)

mid-13c., "proud, noble, bold, haughty," from Old French fers, fiers, nominative form of fer, fier "strong, overwhelming, violent, fierce, wild; proud, mighty, great, impressive" (Modern French fier "proud, haughty"), from Latin ferus "wild, untamed, uncultivated; waste, desert;" figuratively "wild, uncultivated, savage, cruel," from PIE root *ghwer- "wild; wild animal" (cognates: Greek ther, Old Church Slavonic zveri, Lithuanian zveris "wild beast").

Meaning "ferocious, wild, savage, cruel" of persons is from c. 1300; of beasts from late 14c. Original English sense of "brave, proud" died out 16c., but while this sense was current fierce often was used in English as an epithet (and thus surname), which accounts for the rare instance of a French word entering English in the nominative case. Related: Fiercely; fierceness. In Middle English sometimes also "dangerous, destructive; great, strong; huge (in number)." An early 15c. medical treatise has fers benes for "wild beans."

1. The area has been the scene of fierce fighting for three months.

這一地區3個月以來不斷發生激戰。

來自柯林斯例句

2. Legislation to that effect created fierce controversy both in Parliament and outside.

那類立法在議會內外都引起了激烈的爭論。

來自柯林斯例句

3. Such a policy would inevitably draw fierce resistance from farmers.

這種政策必然會招致農場主的強烈抵制。

來自柯林斯例句

4. Competition has been fierce to win a stake in Skoda.

爭奪斯柯達股份的競爭極為激烈。

來自柯林斯例句

5. Its leaves drooped a little in the fierce heat of the sun.

它的葉子在灼熱的陽光下微微耷拉著。

來自柯林斯例句