Word Origin & History
fiercemid-13c., from O.Fr. fers, nom. form of fer, fier "wild, ferocious," from L. ferus "wild, untamed," from PIE base *gwer- "wild, wild animal" (cf. Gk. ther, O.C.S. zveri, Lith. zveris "wild beast"). Originally in English also with a sense of "brave, proud," which died out 16c., but caused the word at
EXPAND first to be commonly used as an epithet, which accounts for the rare instance of a French word entering English in the nominative case. Related: Fiercely; fierceness.
COLLAPSE