verbfourth conjugation, no supine stem except in the future active participle
feriō
feriō (present infinitive ferīre, perfect active feriī, future active participle ferītūrus)
Meaning
- to hit, to strike, to smite, to beat, to knock, injure
ferīrī ā serpente
to be stung by a snakeTālia iactantī, strīdēns Aquilōne procellā
[Even as Aeneas is] crying out such [great words], a gust howling from the Northwind is striking [his] sail full on, and raising up waves to heaven. (The description of waves reaching the sky exemplifies hyperbole. The Northwind: See Aquilo; Anemoi, Anemoi.)29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 1.102–103 - to cut, to thrust
- with accusativeto kill by striking, to slay, to give a deathblow
aliquem secūrī ferīre.
to behead someone with an axeTū illō diē, Jūpiter, populum Rōmānum sīc ferītō, ut ego hunc porcum hīc hodiē feriam, tantōque magis ferītō, quantō magis potes pollēsque.
- to strike, to stamp, to coin
Asses sextantario pondere ferire.
To strike asses only the sixth part of a pound.Tresviri aere argento auro flando feriundo.
Three men for striking and casting bronze, silver and copper coins.moneyer; in the Roman Republic, the abbreviation III. VIR. AAAFF. or even III. VIR. A.P.F. (tresviri ad pecuniam feriundum) was written on the coins, but it stood for - to make a deal or contract or compact, covenant, or treaty
- figurativelyto strike, reach, affect
clāmor Aventīnī saxa propinqua ferit
The cry strikes the nearby rocks of Aventine Hill. (See: Aventine Hill.)8 CE, Ovidius, Fasti 6.518
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
ictum dōferiō -īre — in Metamorphoses I, ch. 17
strike
feriō -īre — in De Bello Gallico II and De Bello Gallico III
to strike
ferīre — in Seneca, ch. XVII
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Verberare · Icere · Ferire · Cædere · Pulsare · Mulcare · Pavire · Cudere
1. Verberare, ferire, and icere, mean, in a general sense, to strike, whether by throwing, hitting, or pushing; but the verberans makes his blow rebound; the iciens and feriens penetrate and wound, or break to pieces; the iciens (resembling in form jaciens) chiefly by throwing, for instance, fulmine ictus; the feriens, by pushing, for instance, murum ariete; whereas cædere, pulsare, and mulcare, denote especially striking, generally with a weapon; cædere, with a weapon that cuts and wounds, a hatchet, sword, whip, rod, strap; pulsare and mulcare, with a hard weapon, stick or fist. Pulsare has any object whatever, man, a door, the ground; mulcare, like to cudgel, only an object that can feel pain, especially man. 2. Verberare, in a narrower sense, denotes a quiet chastisement by the blows of a stick, which is generally appointed, as a formal punishment, by the competent authorities; whereas pulsare and mulcare, a misusage by blows or thrusts, which is administered as mere vengeance by unauthorized persons; pulsare (from pellere) as a slighter misusage with hand or stick, which principally hurts the honor and dignity of the person misused; mulcare (μαλάξαι, malaxare), a rougher misusage, with fists or clubs, which aims principally at physical pain, like a sound drubbing. 3. Pavire (παίειν) means to beat, in order to make a soft mass solid; cudere, in order to widen or extend a solid mass. Fulgere, battuere, and cajare are antiquated or vulgar expressions for beating. (v. 67.)
Conjugation conjugation 4 future no-supine
| form | present | imperfect | future | perfect | pluperfect | fut. perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | feriō | feriēbam | feriam | feriī | ferieram | ferierō |
| 2nd sg. | ferīs | feriēbās | feriēs | feriistī | ferierās | ferieris |
| 3rd sg. | ferit | feriēbat | feriet | feriit | ferierat | ferierit |
| 1st pl. | ferīmus | feriēbāmus | feriēmus | feriimus | ferierāmus | ferierimus |
| 2nd pl. | ferītis | feriēbātis | feriētis | feriistis | ferierātis | ferieritis |
| 3rd pl. | feriunt | feriēbant | ferient | feriērunt feriēre | ferierant | ferierint |
active subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect | perfect | pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | feriam | ferīrem | ferierim | feriissem |
| 2nd sg. | feriās | ferīrēs | ferierīs | feriissēs |
| 3rd sg. | feriat | ferīret | ferierit | feriisset |
| 1st pl. | feriāmus | ferīrēmus | ferierīmus | feriissēmus |
| 2nd pl. | feriātis | ferīrētis | ferierītis | feriissētis |
| 3rd pl. | feriant | ferīrent | ferierint | feriissent |
passive indicative
| form | present | imperfect | future |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | ferior | feriēbar | feriar |
| 2nd sg. | ferīris ferīre | feriēbāris feriēbāre | feriēris feriēre |
| 3rd sg. | ferītur | feriēbātur | feriētur |
| 1st pl. | ferīmur | feriēbāmur | feriēmur |
| 2nd pl. | ferīminī | feriēbāminī | feriēminī |
| 3rd pl. | feriuntur | feriēbantur | ferientur |
passive subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | feriar | ferīrer |
| 2nd sg. | feriāris feriāre | ferīrēris ferīrēre |
| 3rd sg. | feriātur | ferīrētur |
| 1st pl. | feriāmur | ferīrēmur |
| 2nd pl. | feriāminī | ferīrēminī |
| 3rd pl. | feriantur | ferīrentur |
imperative
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| pres. 2nd sg. | ferī | ferīre |
| pres. 2nd pl. | ferīte | ferīminī |
| fut. 2nd sg. | ferītō | ferītor |
| fut. 3rd sg. | ferītō | ferītor |
| fut. 2nd pl. | ferītōte | — |
| fut. 3rd pl. | feriuntō | feriuntor |
infinitives & participles
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| present infinitive | ferīre | ferīrī |
| perfect infinitive | feriisse | — |
| future infinitive | ferītūrum esse | — |
| present participle | feriēns | — |
| future participle | ferītūrus ferītūra, ferītūrā, ferītūrae, ferītūram, ferītūrārum, ferītūrās, ferītūre, ferītūrī, ferītūrīs, ferītūrō, ferītūrōrum, ferītūrōs, ferītūrum | feriendus feriundus, ferienda, feriendā, feriendae, feriendam, feriendārum, feriendās, feriende, feriendīs, feriendōrum, feriendōs |
gerundferiendī, feriendō, feriendum
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- frontem ferire, percutere
- to beat one's brow.
- securi percutere, ferire aliquem
- to execute a person, cut off his head.
- foedus facere (cum aliquo), icere, ferire
- to conclude a treaty, an alliance.
- victimas (oxen), hostias (smaller animals, especially sheep) immolare, securi ferire, caedere, mactare
- to slaughter victims.
fĕrĭo, īre (archaic FERINVNT for feriunt; acc. to Fest. s. v. nequinunt, p. 162, 24 Müll.;
I. part. fut. feriturus, Serv. Verg. A. 7, 498. The perf. forms are supplied by percutio, v. Varr. L. L. 9, 55, § 98 Müll.), 4, v. a. perh. Sanscr. dhūr-, injure, destroy; Lat. ferus, ferox; Gr. θήρ; Aeol. φήρ; cf. Gr. θούριος, impetuous, θορεῖν, to leap; and Lat. furere, furia, etc., to strike, smite, beat, knock, cut, thrust, hit (class.; syn.: icio, percutio, verbero, vapulo, pulso, tundo, pavio).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.:
fores, to knock, Plaut. Men. 1, 2, 63; cf. parietem, Cic. Cael. 24, 59: murum arietibus, to batter, shake, Sall. J. 76, 6: pugiles adversarium, Cic. Tusc. 2, 23 fin.: jacere telum, voluntatis est; ferire quem nolueris, fortunae, to strike, id. Top. 17, 64: partem corporis sibi, Lucr. 2, 441: frontem, Cic. Att. 1, 1, 1: femur, Quint. 11, 3, 123: pectora solito plangore, Ov. M. 4, 554; cf.: calce feritur aselli, id. F. 3, 755: uvas pede (rusticus), to stamp or tread, Tib. 2, 5, 85: feriri a serpente, to be stung, Plin. 29, 4, 22, § 71; cf. Ov. Ib. 481: cetera (venenata animalia) singulos feriunt, id. ib. 23: tabulam malleo, Cels. 6, 7 fin.: stricto ferit retinacula ferro, cuts to pieces (shortly before: incidere funes), Verg. A. 4, 580: certatim socii feriunt mare et aequora verrunt, strike, lash (in rowing), id. ib. 3, 290: ut frontem ferias, that you may beat your brow, i. e. be provoked, Cic. Att. 1, 1, 1.—Poet.: sublimi feriam sidera vertice, hit, touch, Hor. C. 1, 1, 36; cf. in the foll. 2.—Absol.: pugno ferire vel calce, Quint. 2, 8, 13; cf. Hor. S. 2, 7, 99: occursare capro, cornu ferit ille, caveto, pushes, butts, Verg. E. 9, 25.—2. Of inanim. and abstr. subjects:
principio omnibus a rebus, quascumque videmus, Perpetuo fluere ac mitti spargique necesse est Corpora, quae feriant oculos visumque lacessant, strike, touch, Lucr. 6, 923: oculos (corpora, simulacra), id. 4, 217; 257: oculorum acies (res), id. 4, 691: speciem colore (res), id. 4, 243; cf.: his spectris etiam si oculi possent feriri, etc., Cic. Fam. 15, 16, 2: feriuntque summos fulmina montes, Hor. C. 2, 10, 11: nec semper feriet, quodcumque minabitur, arous, id. A. P. 350; cf.: si fractus illabatur orbis, Impavidum ferient ruinae, id. C. 3, 3, 8: nec levius tabulae laterum feriuntur ab undis, Quam, etc., Ov. Tr. 2, 47.—Poet.: ferientia terram corpora, smiting (in falling), Luc. 4, 786: sole fere radiis foriente cacumina primis, hitting, touching, Ov. M. 7, 804: palla imos ferit alba pedes, touches, reaches to, Val. Fl. 1, 385: ferit aethera clamor, Verg. A. 5, 140: feriat dum maesta remotas Fama procul terras, extends to, Luc. 5, 774.—B. In partic.
1. To kill by striking, to give a deathblow, to slay, kill: hostem, Enn. ap. Cic. Balb. 22, 51 (Ann. v. 284 ed. Vahl.); Sall. C. 7, 6; 60, 4; id. J. 85, 33; cf.:
aliquem securi feriri, to be beheaded, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 30, § 75: aliquem telo trabali, Verg. A. 12, 295: retiarium (mirmillo), Quint. 6, 3, 61: te (maritum), Hor. C. 3, 11, 43: leonem atque alias feras primus aut in primis ferire, Sall. J. 6, 1: aprum, Ov. M. 3, 715.—b. Of the animals for sacrifice, to kill, slaughter; and hence, to offer, sacrifice:
nos humilem feriemus agnam, Hor. C. 2, 17, 32: vaccam Proserpinae, Verg. A. 6, 251; cf. the form of oath in making a compact (when a swine was sacrificed): SI PRIOR DEFEXIT (populus Romanus) PVBLICO CONSILIO DOLO MALO, TV ILLO DIE IVPPITER, POPVLVM ROMANVM SIC FERITO, VT EGO HVNC PORCVM HIC HODIE FERIAM: TANTOQVE MAGIS FERITO, QVANTO MAGIS POTES POLLESQVE, Liv. 1, 24, 8: Quid aut sponsoribus in foedere opus esset aut obsidibus, ubi precatione res transigitur? per quem populum fiat, quo minus legibus dictis stetur, ut eum ita Juppiter feriat, quemadmodum a Fetialibus porcus feriatur, id. 9, 5, 3. (Cf. also: Jovis ante aram Stabant et caesā jungebant foedera porcă, Verg. A. 8, 641).— Hence, 2. Transf., foedus ferire, to make a compact, covenant, or treaty (in Hebrew in precisely the same manner, ): accipe daque fidem, foedusque feri bene firmum, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 1 (Ann. v. 33 ed. Vahl.):
is, quicum foedus feriri in Capitolio viderat, Cic. Rab. Post. 3, 6: videret ut satis honestum foedus feriretur, id. Inv. 2, 30, 92: amorum turpissimorum foedera ferire, to form illicit connections, id. Cael. 14, 34: Tarchon jungit opes foedusque ferit, Verg. A. 10, 154 al.—3. Of money, to strike, stamp, coin:
asses sextantario pondere, Plin. 33, 3, 13, § 44. Thus the designation of a triumvir monetalis is III. VIR. A. A. A. F. F., i. e. Triumvir auro argento aeri flando feriundo, Inscr. Orell. 569.II. Trop.
A. In gen.:
quae faciliora sunt philosophis, quo minus multa patent in eorum vita, quae fortuna feriat, reaches, affects, Cic. Off. 1, 21, 73: accidit, ut ictu simili (i. e. morte propinqui) ferirer, was struck with a similar blow, Quint. 6 praef. § 3: verba palato, to bring out, utter, speak, Hor. S. 2, 3, 274; cf.: sonat vox, ut feritur, Quint. 11, 3, 61: feriunt animum (sententiae), id. 12, 10, 48: ut omnis sensus in fine sermonis feriat aurem, id. 8, 5, 13; cf. id. 9, 3, 4.—Absol.: binis aut ternis ferire verbis, Cic. Or. 67, 226: videtur Chrysippus medium ferire voluisse, i. e. to avoid extremes, id. Fat. 17, 39.—B. In partic., to cozen, cheat, gull, trick (mostly in vulg. lang.;
not in Cic.): ubi illa pendentem ferit, jam amplius orat, Plaut. Trin. 2, 1, 19; Ter. Ph. 1, 1, 13: cum ferit astutos comica moecha Getas, Prop. 4 (5), 5, 44. austeros arte ferire viros, id. 3, 3 (4, 2), 50.—C. To punish, inflict punishment: aliquem condemnatione centum librarum auri, Cod. 11, 11, 1.
Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
feriō —, —, īre
2 FER-, to strike, smite, beat, knock, cut, thrust, hit : velut si re verā feriant, H.: cornu ferit ille, butts , V.: alqm: parietem: murum arietibus, batter , S.: calce feritur aselli, O.: mare, V.: frontem, beat the brow , i. e. be provoked : Sublimi sidera vertice, hit, touch , H.: his spectris etiam si oculi possent feriri, etc.: feriuntque summos Fulmina montes, H.. tabulae laterum feriuntur ab undis, O.: Sole radiis feriente cacumina, O.: ferit aethera clamor, V.— To kill by striking, give a death-blow, slay, kill : hostem: (eum) securi, behead : telo orantem multa, V.: te (maritum), H.: leonem, S<*> Frigore te, i. e. cut you dead , H.— To slaughter, offer, sacrifice : agnam, H.: porcum, L. (old form.).—With foedus, to make a compact, covenant, enter into a treaty (because a sacrifice was offered to confirm a covenant): is, quicum foedus feriri in Capitolio viderat: amorum turpissimorum foedera ferire, form illicit connections : lungit opes foedusque ferit, V.—Fig., to strike, reach, affect, impress : multa in vitā, quae fortuna feriat: verba palato, coin , H.: binis aut ternis ferire verbis, make a hit.—To cozen, cheat, gull, trick (colloq.): Geta Ferietur alio munere, T.
Origins
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰerH-
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰéryeti
- Proto-Italic*ferjō
- Latinferiō
From Proto-Italic *ferjō, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰér-ye-ti, unaccented ye-present of the root *bʰerH- (“to pierce, strike”), with the root-final laryngeal dropped due to Pinault's law. An o-grade reflex is attested in forō. Cognate with Albanian bie (“to fall”), Old English ġebered (“crushed, kneaded”), English berry (“to beat, thrash”), Old Armenian բերան (beran), and Ancient Greek φᾰ́ρος (phắros, “plough”), φαράω (pharáō). More at berry. Alternatively, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to scrape, cut”). Compare Middle Irish berna, Old High German berjan, Middle High German berjen, Old English bered, and Avestan 𐬙𐬌𐬲𐬌𐬠𐬁𐬭𐬀 (tižibāra).
Elsewhere
- Italianferire
- Occitanferir
- Portugueseferirfrom Old Galician-Portuguese ferir
- Spanishherirfrom Old Spanish ferir
- Romanianferi
- Sardinianferíre
- Sardinianfèrrere
- Sardinianferri
- Sardinianfèrriri
- Aromanianfirescu
Old Catalan
- Catalanferir
Old Navarro-Aragonese
- Aragoneseferir