Obs. Forms: α. (1 ȝeférrǽden), 3 ferræden, færeden, fer(r)eden, 3–4 ferede, ferred(e, (4 ferrade). β. 3 fer-, verhede. [aphetic f. OE. ȝeférrǽden, f. ȝeféra FERE sb.1 + rǽden condition: see -RED. As in other similar compounds of sbs. ending in -r, the suffix -red was in 13th c. replaced by -hede (see -HEAD).]
Companionship, society, fellowship; a company.
α. c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 23. Ich ileue þat halgan … habben ferrede on alle holinesse.
c. 1205. Lay., 6020.
| Hider heo gunnen senden | |
| of Romanisce ende | |
| feower ferræedene. |
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 702.
| Tu schalt … beon þenne underfon | |
| i þe feire ferreden | |
| & i þe murie of meidnes. |
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (A.), 1354.
| Leuer ous were heron be ded, | |
| Than thou wer ded in our ferred. |
c. 1325. Coer de L., 2277.
| He pricked forth upon his steed, | |
| Him followed ful great ferrede. |
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl. (Kölb.), 3528. Wel at efe with gret ferrade [rime-wd. made].
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2060. Þou art now on þis clos among þes fair ferede.
β. 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2917.
| He wende in þis verhede [v.r. ferhede] | |
| Toward bataile to þe king. |
c. 1300. K. Alis., 3059.
| And certis, the riche kyng of Mede | |
| Hadde he never suche ferhede. |
c. 1325. Coer de L., 1919.
| Kyng Richard entered without drede, | |
| Him followed ful great ferhede. |
