Feared

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Feared" means afraid or scared - a long-standing regional synonym for "afraid."

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I'd say 'feared' is more old timers and regional that the others.

Pronunciation

[FEERD] /fɪrd/

Meaning & Usage

- Afraid or scared (adjective)

Ella:

He won’t go in the creek?

Jeb:

No - he’s feared of water.

variations: Afraid, Scared, Skeered, Askeered

★ "Feared" as an adjective meaning "afraid" reflects older English usage. It survived in rural Southern and Appalachian speech as a living synonym for "afraid," alongside "skeered" and "askeered." ★

Origin

From Middle English "fered" or "fere" meaning "afraid." This sense was common in older British dialects and persisted in Scots-Irish and Appalachian speech long after it disappeared from standard English.

Notes

Still heard in rural Southern/Appalachian speech, especially among older speakers. Outside the region it may be recognized as a quaint or humorous way of saying "afraid."

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: "feared" - often said "feer’d" with the "ed" compressed to a single syllable.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "feared" wrong?

In standard English, yes, but in dialect it’s authentic with deep historical roots.

Does it only appear with "of"?

Most often yes ("feared of snakes"), but it can also stand alone ("He’s right feared").

Is it still used today?

Yes - though less common than "skeered," it still pops up in rural speech and storytelling.