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. 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?
He won’t go in the creek?
Jeb:
No - he’s feared of water.
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 and Etymology
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.
Usage 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.