Sullen, morose, or withdrawn in manner; wild or shy in an unconventional way; having a fierce or untamed quality.
From French 'farouche' (meaning 'wild' or 'fierce'), ultimately derived from Latin 'ferox' (meaning fierce or wild), entering English through literary and social contexts.
The word has a wonderfully specific tone—it describes someone who isn't just shy, but has an almost defiant or artistically gloomy distance, making it a favorite of Victorian and Romantic writers.
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