ferityn.
/ˈfɛrɪti/ 1.
a. The quality or state of being wild or savage; brutishness, wildness; hence, ferocity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > savagery > [noun]
rethenesseOE
grimcundleȝcc1175
fellhead1340
ferteec1380
fiercenessc1384
savagenessa1400
grimliness14..
fellnessc1410
bestialitya1413
fierceheadc1440
cruelness?a1475
inhumanity1477
bremeness?1529
fury1534
tigerness1535
bruteness1538
immanity1539
wolvishness?1548
ferity?c1550
brutishness1567
truculency1569
Phalarism1581
ferocity1606
savagerya1616
brutality1633
inhumanness1649
wolfishness1676
boarishness1682
brutism1687
truculence1727
ferociousness1766
bestialism1824
tigerhood1846
Calibanism1859
unhumanness1885
inhumanism1907
Hunnishness1914
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > fierceness > [noun]
grimcundleȝcc1175
fellhead1340
ferteec1380
fiercetya1382
fiercenessc1384
grimliness14..
fellnessc1410
fierceheadc1440
grillc1450
cruelness?a1475
tigerness1535
wolvishness?1548
ferity?c1550
truculency1569
cursedness1589
ferocity1606
wolfishness1676
boarishness1682
brutishness1683
truculence1727
ferociousness1766
tiger1825
tigerhood1846
Hunnishness1914
?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. 109 The rude raginge of the frenetick Scotts..encresed with more beastlie feritee.
1682 T. Sprat Serm. before Artillery Co. 15 Is it not brutish Ferity rather than manly boldness.
1774 J. Bryant New Syst. II. 363 The lion ramped: the pard sported..none of them betrayed any ferity.
1883 J. Burroughs in Cent. Mag. 27 111 Even in rugged Scotland, nature is..a good way short of the ferity of the moose.
b. Of a plant, etc.: Wildness, uncultivated condition.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > wild and cultivated plants > [noun] > wild > wild state
wildnessa1616
ferity1664
uncultivability1880
1664 J. Evelyn Sylva (1776) 648 The Suckers..forgetting the Ferity of their Nature.
1713 W. Derham Physico-theol. ii. vi. 55 So many Plants..are very noxious; some by their Ferity, and others by their poisonous Nature.
2. Savage or barbarous condition; †a form or instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > customs, values, and civilization > civilization > lack of civilization > [noun]
barbarousness1549
Barbary1564
barbarity1570
barbarism1584
incivility1584
uncivility1598
wildness1639
ferity1646
the (also a) state of nature1650
savagism1665
savagery1782
semi-barbarism1817
barbarization1822
incivilization1823
semibarbarianism1828
savagedom1844
barbarianism1854
uncivilizedness1879
uncivilization1880
bruteness1883
semi-savagedom1887
society > society and the community > customs, values, and civilization > civilization > lack of civilization > [noun] > instance of
ferity1646
barbarism1647
brutism1845
Calibanism1859
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica vii. xix. 384 Though the blindnesse of some ferities have savaged on the dead..yet had they therein no designe upon the soule. View more context for this quotation
1652 P. Heylyn Cosmographie ii. sig. Xx4v The ferity and barbarous condition of the first Inhabitants.
1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels I. 415 The ancient Rudeness and Ferity of our Country.
1848 Herbert in Todd's Nennius p. xcix A population of the extremest ferity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > ill-treatment > cruelty > [noun] > barbaric
Turkishness1545
barbarousness1548
barbariousnessa1568
barbarism1603
ferity1614
Moorism1620
barbarity1685
1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. v. ii. §2. 384 The true name of Tyrannie..is none other, than Feritie.
1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriotaphia: Urne-buriall iii. 45 To burn the bones of the King of Edom for Lyme, seems no irrationall ferity.
1718 H. Prideaux Old & New Test. Connected II. i. 19 Fearing the brutal ferity of his Son.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.?c1550