F — Ferreter to Fess (Part 5 of 6)

Fervency
(Fer"ven*cy) n. [Cf. OF. fervence. See Fervent.] The state of being fervent or warm; ardor; warmth of feeling or devotion; eagerness.

When you pray, let it be with attention, with fervency, and with perseverance.

Wake.

Fervent
(Fer"vent) a. [F. fervent, L. fervens, -entis. p. pr. of fervere o the boiling hot, to boil, glow.]

1. Hot; glowing; boiling; burning; as, a fervent summer.

The elements shall melt with fervent heat.

2 Pet. iii. 10.

2. Warm in feeling; ardent in temperament; earnest; full of fervor; zealous; glowing.

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit.

Rom. iii. 11.

So spake the fervent angel.

Milton.

A fervent desire to promote the happiness of mankind.

Macaulay.

— Fer"vent*ly, adv. — Fer"vent*ness, n.

Laboring fervently for you in prayers.

Col. iv. 12.

Fervescent
(Fer*ves"cent) a. [L. fervescens, p. pr. of fervescere to become boiling hot, incho., fr. fervere. See Fervent.] Growing hot.

Fervid
(Fer"vid) a. [L. fervidus, fr. fervere. See Fervent.]

1. Very hot; burning; boiling.

The mounted sun
Shot down direct his fervid rays.

Milton.

2. Ardent; vehement; zealous.

The fervid wishes, holy fires.

Parnell.

— Fer"vid*ly, adv. — Fer"vid*ness, n.

Fervor
(Fer"vor) n. [Written also fervour.] [OF. fervor, fervour, F. ferveur, L. fervor, fr. fervere. See Fervent.]

1. Heat; excessive warmth.

The fevor of ensuing day.

Waller.

2. Intensity of feeling or expression; glowing ardor; passion; holy zeal; earnestness. Hooker.

Winged with fervor of her love.

Shak.

Syn. — Fervor, Ardor. Fervor is a boiling heat, and ardor is a burning heat. Hence, in metaphor, we commonly use fervor and its derivatives when we conceive of thoughts or emotions under the image of ebullition, or as pouring themselves forth. Thus we speak of the fervor of passion, fervid declamation, fervid importunity, fervent supplication, fervent desires, etc. Ardent is used when we think of anything as springing from a deepseated glow of soul; as, ardent friendship, ardent zeal, ardent devotedness; burning with ardor for the fight.