An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Furcht

by Friedrich Kluge

Furcht, f., ‘fear, terror, fright,’ from MidHG. vorhte, vorht, f., ‘fear, anxiety, apprehension,’ OHG. and OSax. forhta, forahta; abstr. of fürchten. In AS. a modified abstr. is found; comp. AS. fyrhto (Goth. faurhtei), hence E. fright, whence to frighten, to fright; E. fear (see Gefahr), is not a cognate.