Talk:ferocious

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Latest comment: 3 years ago by Polypz
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Etymology[edit]

From etymonline we have:

  • 1640s, from Latin ferocis, oblique case of ferox "fierce, wild-looking," from ferus "wild" (from PIE root *ghwer- "wild beast") + -ox (genitive -ocis), a suffix meaning "looking or appearing" (cognate with Greek ōps "eye, sight;" from PIE root *okw- "to see"). Alternative ferocient (1650s) is seldom seen. Related: Ferociously; ferociousness.

Neither this entry nor that for "ferox" connects the important component "-ox" ("-ocis") with "looking or appearing", is there a reason for that? Polypz (talk) 10:03, 23 November 2020 (UTC)Reply