fiercely

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
fiercely
    adv 1: in a physically fierce manner; "silence broken by dogs
           barking ferociously"; "they fought fiercely" [syn:
           {ferociously}, {fiercely}]
    2: in an emotionally fierce manner; "she was fiercely proud of
       her children"
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Fierce \Fierce\, a. [Compar. {Fiercer}; superl. {Fiercest}.]
   [OE. fers, fiers, OF. fier, nom. fiers, fierce, savage,
   cruel, F. fier proud, from L. ferus wild, savage, cruel;
   perh. akin to E. bear the animal. Cf. {Feral}, {Ferocity}.]
   1. Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as, a fierce
      wind.
      [1913 Webster]

            His fierce thunder drove us to the deep. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or
      injure; of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious. "A
      fierce whisper." --Dickens. "A fierce tyrant." --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

            The fierce foe hung upon our broken rear. --Milton.
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            Thou huntest me as a fierce lion.     --Job. x. 16.
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   3. Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent.

   Syn: Ferocious; savage; cruel; vehement; impetuous;
        barbarous; fell. See {Ferocious}. -- {Fierce"ly}, adv.
        -- {Fierce"ness}, n.
        [1913 Webster]
    

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