adv. Obs. [OE. fǽringa, fǽrunga (= OS. fârungo, OHG. fâringa), f. fǽr: see FEAR sb.] Suddenly. After 12th c. only with genitival s, used quasi-adj. in feringes dede, sudden death.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke ii. 13. And i a wæs færinga [c. 1160, Hatton Gosp., Luke ii. 13 færinge] ȝeworden mid þam engle mycelnes heofonlices werydes.
c. 1180. Rood-Tree (1894), 26/12. Þa feringæ wearð heo bæften al on brune.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7835 (Cott.).
| Qua lais hand in feloni | |
| O king … | |
| O ferings ded, wit-vten grith, | |
| He dei. |
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 185. Þis ȝere falle him þe ferynges dede.
Hence † Feringly adv., suddenly.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter, lxiii[i]. 4. Ferinkli schote him sal þai swa. Ibid., lxxii[i]. 19. Ferinkli … Waned þai.
