Also 5 farvence, 6–7 fervencie. [f. as prec.: see -ENCY.]
1. The state or quality of being fervent; glowing or burning heat, intensity of heat. Now rare.
1598. Chapman, Iliad, VI. 185. Flames of deadly fervency flew from her breath and eyes.
1633. P. Fletcher, Pisc. Ecl., i. 2.
| About his head a rocky canopie, | |
| And craggy hangings round a shadow threw, | |
| Rebutting Phœbus parching fervencie. |
1879. G. Meredith, Egoist, III. x. 214. It is the sole star which on a night of frost and strong moonlight preserves an indomitable fervency.
† b. Of cold: Intensity, severity. Obs.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XIV. 693.
| The fervency | |
| Of that sharp night would kill me. |
2. fig. ‘Heat of mind,’ intensity of feeling or desire, warmth of devotion, zeal, ardour, eagerness; † an instance of the same.
1554. Knox, Faythf. Admon., D vj b. Peter in a feruencie first left his bote.
1600. E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 6. They continued their new navigation, with greater fervencie.
1672–5. Comber, Comp. Temple (1702), 368. The Motives that ought to excite our Fervency.
1734. Watts, Reliquiæ Juveniles, 281. He drew some Practical Inferences at the Close, with Justice, and with some degree of Fervency.
1814. Southey, Bk. of Ch. (1841), 173. The prayer which was preferred with increased fervency at a martyr’s grave.
1865. Kingsley, Herew. (1866), I. xvi. 302. The fair lady had never known the whole fervency of your love.
