fer-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "fer"

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse fer-, from Proto-Germanic *feþur-, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwr̥-, the zero-grade form of *kʷetwóres (“four”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɛːr/

Prefix

fer-

1. four, quadri-, tetra-
2. (in derived units) square

Middle English

Prefix

fer-

1. alternative form of for-

Old English

Alternative forms

• fær-, fear-, feor-, fier-, for-, fyr-

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *fer-, unstressed form of *firi- (“around, across”), *fra- (“away from, off of, fully”), *furi- (“before, forth, forward”). Akin to Old High German ver-, Gothic faír-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fer/

Prefix

fer-

1. unstressed form of Old English prefix for-

Usage notes

fer-, the unstressed form, was supplanted in later Old English in all cases by for-.