Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FIELD-OF-FI-CER, n.

A military officer above the rank of captain, as a major or colonel.

FIELD-PIECE, n.

A small cannon which is carried along with armies, and used in the field of battle.

FIELD-PREACH-ER, n.

One who preaches in the open air. Lavington.

FIELD-PREACH-ING, n.

A preaching in the field or open air. Warburton.

FIELD-ROOM, n.

Open space. [Not in use.] Drayton.

FIELD-SPORTS, n. [plur.]

Diversions of the field, as shooting and hunting. Chesterfield.

FIELD-STAFF, n.

A weapon carried by gunners, about the length of a halberd, with a spear at the end; having on each side ears screwed on, like the cock of a match-lock, where the gunners screw in lighted matches, when they are on command. Encyc.

FIELD-WORKS, n.

In the military art, works thrown up by an army in besieging a fortress, or by the besieged to defend the place. Encyc.

FIELD-Y, a.

Open like a field. [Not in use.] Wickliffe.

FIEND, n. [Sax. feond, Goth. fiands, from fian, feon, figan, to hate; G. feind; D. vyand; Sw. and Dan. fiende. See Feud, contention.]

An enemy in the worst sense; an implacable or malicious foe; the devil; an infernal being. O woman! woman! when to ill thy mind / Is bent, all hell contains no fouler fiend. Pope.

FIEND-FRAY-ING, a.

Terrifying fiends. More.

FIEND-FULL, a.

Full of evil or malignant practices. Marlowe.

FIEND'FUL-LY, adv.

In a fiend-like manner.

FIEND-HEART-ED, a.

Having the heart of a fiend.

FIEND'ISH, a.

Like a fiend; malicious.

FIEND'ISH-NESS, n.

Maliciousness.

FIEND-LIKE, a.

Resembling a fiend; maliciously wicked; diabolical.

FIERCE, a. [Fr. fier; It. fiero, feroce; Sp. fiero, feroz; from L. ferus, ferox, the primary sense of which is wild, running, rushing.]

1. Vehement; violent; furious; rushing; impetuous; as, a fierce wind. Watts.
2. Savage; ravenous; easily enraged; as, a fierce lion.
3. Vehement in rage; eager of mischief; as, a fierce tyrant; a monster fierce for blood.
4. Violent; outrageous; not to be restrained. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce. Gen. xlii.
5. Passionate; angry; furious.
6. Wild; staring; ferocious; as, a fierce countenance.
7. Very eager; ardent; vehement; as, a man fierce for his party.

FIERCE-LY, adv.

1. Violently; furiously; with rage; as both sides fiercely fought.
2. With a wild aspect; as, to look fiercely.

FIERCE-MIND-ED, a.

Vehement; of a furious temper. Bp. Wilson.

FIERCE-NESS, n.

1. Ferocity; savageness. The defect of heat which gives fierceness to our natures. Swift.
2. Eagerness for blood; fury; as, the fierceness of a lion or bear.
3. Quickness to attack; keenness in anger and resentment. The Greeks are strong, and skillful to their strength, / Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness valiant. Shak.
4. Violence; outrageous passion. His pride and brutal fierceness I abhor. Dryden.
5. Vehemence; fury; impetuosity; as, the fierceness of a tempest.

FI'E-RI-FA'CIAS, n. [L.]

In law, a judicial writ that lies for him who has recovered in debt or damages, commanding the sherif to levy the same on the goods of him against whom the recovery was had. Cowel.

FI'ER-I-NESS, n. [See Fiery, Fire.]

1. The quality of being fiery; heat; acrimony; the quality of a substance that excites a sensation of heat. Boyle.
2. Heat of temper; irritability; as, fieriness of temper. Addison.

FI'ER-Y, a. [from fire.]

1. Consisting of fire; as, the fiery gulf of Etna. And fiery billows roll below. Watts.
2. Hot like fire; as, a fiery heart. Shak.
3. Vehement; ardent; very active; impetuous; as, a fiery spirit.
4. Passionate; easily provoked; irritable. You know the fiery quality of the duke. Shak.
5. Unrestrained; fierce; as, a fiery steed.
6. Heated by fire. The sword which is made fiery. Hooker.
7. Like fire; bright; glaring; as, a fiery appearance.

FIFE, n. [Fr. fifre; G. pfeife. It is radically the same as pipe, W. pib, Ir. pib or pip, D. pyp, Dan. pibe, Sw. pipa, coinciding with L. pipio, to pip or peep, as a chicken. The word may have received its name from a hollow stalk, or from its sound.]

A small pipe, used as a wind instrument, chiefly in martial music with drums.