n.; pl. Furies [ L. furia, fr. furere to rage: cf. F. furie. Cf. Furor. ] 1. Violent or extreme excitement; overmastering agitation or enthusiasm. [ 1913 Webster ] Her wit began to be with a divine fury inspired. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Violent anger; extreme wrath; rage; -- sometimes applied to inanimate things, as the wind or storms; impetuosity; violence. “Fury of the wind.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] I do oppose my patience to his fury. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. pl. (Greek Myth.) The avenging deities, Tisiphone, Alecto, and Megæra; the Erinyes or Eumenides. [ 1913 Webster ] The Furies, they said, are attendants on justice, and if the sun in heaven should transgress his path would punish him. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. One of the Parcæ, or Fates, esp. Atropos. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears, And slits the thin-spun life. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. A stormy, turbulent violent woman; a hag; a vixen; a virago; a termagant. Syn. -- Anger; indignation; resentment; wrath; ire; rage; vehemence; violence; fierceness; turbulence; madness; frenzy. See Anger. [ 1913 Webster ] |