• adj. 凶猛的；猛烈的；暴躁的
• n. (Fierce)人名；(英)菲尔斯

词源同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.

这一地区3个月以来不断发生激战。

来自柯林斯例句

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

那类立法在议会内外都引起了激烈的争论。

来自柯林斯例句

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

这种政策必然会招致农场主的强烈抵制。

来自柯林斯例句

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

争夺斯柯达股份的竞争极为激烈。

来自柯林斯例句

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

它的叶子在灼热的阳光下微微耷拉着。

来自柯林斯例句