Origin and history of fury

(plural Erinyes), one of the three female spirits (Alēctō, Tisiphonē, Megaera), avengers of iniquity in Greek religion; a word of which Beekes writes, "In sum, there is no good lE etymology and the word is probably Pre-Greek." They were identified with the Roman Furies. Related: Erinnic; Erinnical (1610s).

late 14c., "impetuous, unrestrained," from Old French furios, furieus "furious, enraged, livid" (14c., Modern French furieux), from Latin furiosus "full of rage, mad," from furia "rage, passion, fury" (see fury). Furioso, from the Italian form of the word, was used in English 17c.-18c. for "an enraged person," probably from Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso."