[f. FEAR v. + -ING1.] The action of the vb. FEAR. a. The being in fear or dread, † an instance of this. † To have in fearing: to be in dread of. b. The action of distrusting or doubting; † an instance of this.
In the Lancashire dialect used collect. for ghosts, fairies, goblins, etc. By dialect writers spelt fe(e)orin.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 44. Decaie of cleane sweepyng folke had in fearyng.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Ist., VIII. x. 109.
| And sending often back his doubtfull eye, | |
| By fearing taught unthought-of treacherie. |
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud (1668), I. 113. Long he had not been in Spain, when there were many fearings of him in the Court of England.
1682. N. O., Boileau’s Lutrin, III. 126. Poor Hobhowchin puts you in this fearing.
