Obs. Forms: 4–6 fe-, fi-, fyerste(e. [f. as prec. + -TY.] = FIERCENESS.
1382. Wyclif, Judith iii. 11. And ȝit ner the latere these thingus doende thei myȝten not swagen the feerste of his brest.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 4233. The fierstee of this streit dome is noted be virgines ten.
1494. Fabyan, Chron. VII. 394.
| The northyn wynde blewe with suche fyerste, | |
| That houses, tryes, with herbys, it ouercast. |
c. 1500. Melusine, 119. He considered the grandeur & the facion of Vryan, & the fyerste of hys vysage.
