one of the passions of the human mind; (see PASSION). It is defined, an apprehension of impending evil, attended with a desire of avoiding it.

Fear in the extreme is called fright or terror. See FRIGHT.

Scripture, is used in various senses.

The fear of God is either filial or servile. The filial fear is a holy affection or gracious habit in the soul, whereby it is inclined to obey all God's commandments, and to hate and avoid evil. Servile or servile fear is the consequence of guilt; it is a judicial impression from the sad thoughts of the provoked majesty of heaven; it is an alarm within that disturbs the rest of a sinner. Though this fear be in wicked men, yet it often proves preparative to faith and repentance.

Fear is likewise used for the object of fear. Thus it is said, "the fear of Isaac," to describe the God whom Isaac feared; (Gen. xxxi. 24.), and in Prov. i. 16, "I will mock when your fear cometh;" that is, the calamity you feared. God says, that he will send his fear before his people; that is, a dread wrought by him, in order to terrify and destroy the inhabitants of Canaan.

(Metus, Pavor, or Timor), was deified by the Pagans. Tullus Hostilius brought the worship of this deity to Rome. The Ephori of Sparta erected a temple to Fear, near their tribunal, to strike an awe into those who approached it. Fear was likewise worshipped at Corinth. The poets did not forget this imaginary deity. Virgil places her in the entrance of hell, in company with diseases, old age, &c. En. vi. 273. Ovid places her in the retinue of Tiphonone of the furies, Met. iv. 483.