fearr

From Old Irish ferr (“better”), from Proto-Celtic *werros, from Proto-Indo-European *wers- (“peak”). Akin to Latin verrūca (“steep place, height”), Lithuanian viršùs (“top, head”) and Old Church Slavonic врьхъ (vrĭxŭ, “top, peak”). Compare Scottish Gaelic fheàrr.

• (Munster, Connacht) IPA^(key): /fʲɑːɾˠ/^[1]
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /fʲaːɾˠ/^[2]

fearr

1. comparative degree of maith

• is fearr le (“prefer”)
• is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste

• fear

From Proto-West Germanic *farʀ, from Proto-Germanic *farzaz, a byform of *farzô (“bull, steer”).

• IPA^(key): /fæ͜ɑrr/, [fæ͜ɑrˠ]

fearr m

1. bull
   • c. 994, Ælfric, On the Year

     Ǣlċe mōnað hēo yrnð under ān þǣra tacna. Ān þǣra tacna ys ġehāten aries, þæt is ramm; oðer taurus, þæt is fearr; ðridda gemini, þæt synd ġetwisan; fēorða cancer, þæt is crabba; fīfta leo; syxta virgo, þæt is mǣden; seofoða libra, þæt is pund orde wǣġe; eahtoðe scorpius, þæt is þrōwend; nigoða is sagittarius, þæt is sċytta; teoða ys capricornus, þæt is buccan horn, oððe bucca; endlyfta is aquarius, þæt is wæter-ġyte, oððe þe þe wæter ġyt; twelfte is pisces, þæt synd fixas.

     Each month runs under one of the signs [of the Zodiac]. The first of the signs is called aries, that is "ram"; the second is taurus, that is "bull"; the third is gemini, that is "twins"; the fourth is cancer, that is "crab"; the fifth is lion; the sixth is virgo, that is "virgin"; the seventh is libra, that is "pound" or "scales"; eighth is scorpious, that is "scorpion"; ninth is sagittarius, that is "shooter"; tenth is capricornus, that is "he-goat's horn" or "he-goat"; eleventh is aquarius, that is "pouring water" or "one that pours water"; twelfth is pisces, that is "fishes."

   Iċ ġeseah þā trīewenan duru tōbrecan. Fearr styrmde fnǣrende intō mīnum clēofan.

   I saw the wooden door shatter. A bull stormed snorting into my room.

Strong a-stem:

• bula
• stēor

fearr

1. alternative spelling of feàrr