bear
bear
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "bear" is /bɛər/.
/bɛər/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bear
Plural Noun: bears
Verb (Base Form): bear
Verb (Third Person Singular Present): bears
Verb (Present Participle): bearing
Verb (Past Tense): bore
Verb (Past Participle): borne (for meaning "carried" or "endured")
Verb (Past Participle): born (for meaning "given birth to")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A large, heavy, omnivorous mammal with thick fur and a short tail, typically found in forested or mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Bears are known for their ability to hibernate in winter.
Synonyms: bruin, ursine
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it's a specific animal)
Verb
To carry something, especially something heavy or unwieldy, from one place to another. This can involve physical support or transportation.
Synonyms: carry, convey, transport, lug, haul
Antonyms: drop, release, discard, abandon
To support the weight of something; to hold something up. This often implies enduring a burden or pressure.
Synonyms: support, sustain, hold, uphold, endure
Antonyms: collapse, give way, buckle, fail
To endure or tolerate something difficult, painful, or unpleasant. This implies resilience in the face of adversity.
Synonyms: tolerate, withstand, suffer, undergo, brave, put up with
Antonyms: surrender, yield, give in, succumb
To have or show a particular quality, characteristic, or appearance; to be marked by something.
Synonyms: possess, exhibit, display, show, carry
Antonyms: lack, forgo, hide, conceal
To give birth to (young). This is typically used in the past participle form "born."
Synonyms: give birth to, produce, bring forth, deliver
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific biological process)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He could not bear to look at her, knowing the pain he had caused." (From a fictional novel, general usage)
"The polar bear is a symbol of the Arctic's fragile ecosystem." (From a non-fiction book about wildlife, specific animal usage)
"It was a burden she had to bear alone, a secret she carried with her always." (From a mystery novel, enduring a burden usage)
Newspapers:
"The local economy is expected to bear the brunt of the new tariffs." (Headline from a business section, enduring a negative impact usage)
"Wildlife officials warn residents to be vigilant as a black bear was sighted near the hiking trail." (Local news report, specific animal usage)
"The witness refused to bear false testimony in court." (Legal reporting, to carry or provide usage)
Online Publications:
"How to Bear the Heat: Tips for Staying Cool This Summer" (Article title on a health and wellness website, enduring a condition usage)
"A grizzled bear ambled out of the forest, sniffing the air cautiously." (Nature blog post, specific animal usage)
"New software aims to bear the load of complex data analysis for small businesses." (Tech review website, to support usage)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV Show: "You must bear witness to what happened here." (Dialogue from a drama or thriller, to observe and attest usage)
Song Lyrics: "I can't bear to lose you now, after all we've been through." (From a pop song, enduring emotional pain usage)
Video Game: "Collect the ancient relic and bear it back to the temple." (Instruction in a fantasy adventure game, to carry usage)
Podcast: "The host talked about how authors often bear the weight of their own expectations." (From a creative writing podcast, enduring a burden usage)
General Public Discourse:
"I can't bear this humidity!" (Casual conversation, enduring an unpleasant condition usage)
"He has a bear of a job ahead of him." (Figurative language, indicating something difficult or challenging)
"Please bear with me while I find that information." (Common polite request, to be patient with someone)
"Remember to bear right at the next intersection." (Giving directions, to move in a particular direction)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bear
"To bear true witness is to be a martyr." (Socrates)
"The heaviest bear on earth is not the polar bear, but the bear of remorse." (Russian Proverb)
"God does not bear a grudge forever." (Psalm 103:9, The Bible)
"We can bear almost any pain, if we can bear to tell the story." (Isak Dinesen)
"A good conscience can bear any trouble." (Italian Proverb)
"He who would bear a tree, must first bear a branch." (African Proverb)
"To bear your cross, you must first pick it up." (Anonymous)
"Man can bear no more than his share." (Sophocles)
"The courage to bear witness to the truth, even when it is uncomfortable, is the hallmark of a free society." (Desmond Tutu)
"If you can't bear the heat, get out of the kitchen." (Harry S. Truman)
Etymology
The word "bear" actually has a fascinating double origin, and the two main meanings we use today – the animal and the act of carrying/enduring – come from different roots that just happened to end up sounding and looking the same in English.
The Animal "Bear":
First known use/meaning: The word for the animal "bear" in English comes from the Old English word "bera". This word is believed to have originated from a Proto-Germanic word "berô", which likely meant "the brown one."
Why "the brown one"? This is where it gets really interesting! Many linguists believe that ancient Germanic tribes, out of respect or fear of the powerful animal, avoided saying its true name. Instead, they used a euphemism, calling it simply "the brown one" (or perhaps "the wild one"). This avoidance of the "real" name is a very old practice known as a linguistic taboo, and "bear" is considered one of the oldest known euphemisms. The original Proto-Indo-European word for bear, from which words like the Greek "arktos" (seen in "Arctic") and Latin "ursus" (seen in "Ursidae") derive, was completely replaced in the Germanic languages by this "brown one" nickname.
The Verb "To Bear" (carry, endure):
First known use/meaning: The verb "to bear" comes from a different Old English word, "beran". This word meant "to carry," "to bring," "to give birth to," "to endure," or "to support."
Older roots: This "beran" comes from a much older Proto-Germanic word "beraną", which had a very similar meaning of "to carry" or "to bear." If you go back even further, you find its roots in a Proto-Indo-European word "*bʰer-", which meant "to carry" or "to bring forth." This root is actually shared by words in many other languages, like the Latin "ferre" (from which we get words like "transfer" and "confer") and the Greek "pherein."
So, while the animal and the verb "bear" sound identical in modern English, their histories are distinct, a linguistic coincidence that makes the word even more intriguing!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bear
Bear witness: To provide evidence or testify to something.
Bear fruit: To produce a positive or successful result.
Bear a grudge: To harbor resentment or ill will towards someone.
Bear in mind: To remember or consider something.
Bear the brunt (of something): To suffer the main force or impact of something unpleasant.
Bear down on (someone/something): To press down with force; to approach with determination or menace.
Bear with (someone): To be patient with someone.
Bear arms: To carry weapons, typically for military service or self-defense.
A bear market: A financial market in which prices are falling, encouraging selling.
Like a bear with a sore head: In a bad mood; irritable.
To bear a striking resemblance: To look very much like someone or something.
To bear responsibility: To be accountable for something.
To grin and bear it: To accept a difficult situation without complaining.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bear from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
