adv. and a. Obs. Forms: 1 feorran, feorran(n)e, feorrene, 2–4 ferren(e, (3 feren, verren, 4 ferynne, furrene), 3 feorre(n, 3–5 ferne, 6 farren. Also (after preps. of, on) ferrom(e, ferrum; see AFERRUM. [OE. feorran, feorrane, feorrene, corresp. to OS. ferrana, ferran, OHG. ferrana, -no, f. OTeut. *ferr- FAR adv. The adj. appears first in 12th c.; its development from the adv. is paralleled in the mod.G. fern.] A. adv.
1. From far, from a distance.
Beowulf, 839 (Gr.). Feorran and nean.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 1836 (Gr.). Uncer tweȝa feorren cumenra.
a. 1000. Elene, 993 (Gr.). Feorran ȝeferede.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 70. Ȝif eni god mon is feorrene ikumen.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1320.
| Hwat canstu, wrecche thing, of storre, | |
| Bute that thu bihaitest hi feorre? |
2. Afar, far away, at or to a distance.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 5. ða onȝon he sprecan swiðe feorran ymbuton.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 58. Petrus hym fylide feorrane.
c. 1205. Lay., 25733.
| Þa iseȝen heo nawiht feorren | |
| a muchel fur smokien. |
a. 1225. Juliana, 71. Þa com þe illke belial þat ha hefde ibeaten feorren to bihinden.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2601. Maria dowter ful feren stod.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 137.
| The sonne and monne and many sterren | |
| By easte arysethe swythe ferren. |
3. Preceded by prep.; of, on (o), from ferren (ferrom): from or at a distance; see AFERROM.
a. 1240. Sawles Warde, in Cott. Hom., 249. A sonde þat ha wel cnaweð of feorren icumen.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11744 (Gött.). Þai lokid þaim on ferrom fra. Ibid., 27372 (Cott.). O ferrum for to spi.
c. 1300. Havelok, 1864. Gleyues schoten him fro ferne.
1352. Minot, Poems, vii. 89. He saw þe toun o-ferrum bren.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xvi. 72. Þe whilk men may see on ferrum.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5520.
| In hokis of iren | |
| Flesch on ferrom þaim fra. |
c. 1470. Hardyng, Chron., VI. iii. 5.
| Shyppes came, | |
| Fro ferrome sene. |
B. adj. Distant, far, remote.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp. Luke xix. 12. Sum æthelboren man ferde on ferren [c. 1000, Corpus, fyrlen] land.
c. 1205. Lay., 3331. Ȝef ferrene kinges hiherde þa tidinde.
c. 1250. Old Kentish Serm., in O. E. Misc., 27. Þo þrie kinges of heþenesse þet comen fram verrene londes ure louerd to seche.
c. 1305. S. Kather., 20, in E. E. P. (1862), 90. So moche folc of furrene lond.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. vii. 60. Al þouȝ [þat] renoune y-spradde passynge to ferne poeples goþ by dyuerse tonges.
| Ibid. (c. 1386), Prol., 14. | |
| Thanne longen folk to gon on pilgrimages, | |
| And palmers for to seeken straunge strondes, | |
| To ferne halwes, kouthe in sondry londes. |
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 745. Þere come foure clerkes to Wyltone from ferne lond.
1548. Gest. Pr. Masse, 126. The Godlye fathers in theyr exilement wandering in farren contreis.
