OrigoFrom Proto-Italic *ferjō, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH- (“to pierce, strike”) through *bʰér-ye-ti perhaps with root-final laryngeal dropped in a prevocalic position; the o-grade reflex is attested in forō. Cognate with Albanian bie (“to fall”), Old English ġebered (“crushed, kneaded”), English berry (“to beat, thrash”), Old Armenian բերան (beran), Ancient Greek φᾰ́ρος (phắros, “plough”), φαράω (pharáō). More at berry.
Alternatively, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to scrape, to cut”). Compare Middle Irish berna, Old High German berjan, Middle High German berjen, Old English bered, Avestan 𐬙𐬌𐬲𐬌𐬠𐬁𐬭𐬀 (tižibāra).
- conjugation-4to hit, to strike, to smite, to beat, to knock, injure
“ferīrī ā serpente” — to be stung by a snake
“Tālia iactantī, strīdēns Aquilōne procellā” — [Even as Aeneas is] crying out such [great words], a gust howling from the Northwind is striking [his] sail full on, and raising up waves to heaven.
(The description of waves reaching the sky exemplif
- conjugation-4to cut, to thrust
- conjugation-4, with-accusativeto kill by striking, to slay, to give a deathblow
“aliquem secūrī ferīre.” — to behead someone with an axe
“Tū illō diē, Jūpiter, populum Rōmānum sīc ferītō, ut ego hunc porcum hīc hodiē feriam, tantōque magis ferītō, quantō magis potes pollēsque.”
- conjugation-4to strike, to stamp, to coin
“Asses sextantario pondere ferire.” — To strike asses only the sixth part of a pound.
“Tresviri aere argento auro flando feriundo.” — Three men for striking and casting bronze, silver and copper coins.
- conjugation-4to make a deal or contract or compact, covenant, or treaty
- conjugation-4, figurativelyto strike, reach, affect
“clāmor Aventīnī saxa propinqua ferit” — The cry strikes the nearby rocks of Aventine Hill.
(See: Aventine Hill.)
Formaeferiō(canonical) · no supine stem except in the future active participle(canonical) · ferīre(infinitive, present) · feriī(active, perfect) · ferītūrus(active, future, participle) · feriō(active, first-person, indicative, present, singular) · ferīs(active, indicative, present, second-person, singular) · ferit(active, indicative, present, singular, third-person) · ferīmus(active, first-person, indicative, plural, present) · ferītis(active, indicative, plural, present, second-person) · feriunt(active, indicative, plural, present, third-person) · feriēbam(active, first-person, imperfect, indicative, singular) · feriēbās(active, imperfect, indicative, second-person, singular) · feriēbat(active, imperfect, indicative, singular, third-person) · feriēbāmus(active, first-person, imperfect, indicative, plural) · feriēbātis(active, imperfect, indicative, plural, second-person) · feriēbant(active, imperfect, indicative, plural, third-person) · feriam(active, first-person, future, indicative, singular) · feriēs(active, future, indicative, second-person, singular) · feriet(active, future, indicative, singular, third-person)
Fons: Vicitionarium