We do not know the etymology of the word fear. That is, the makers of dictionaries are unsure of it. But there is a good chance that it is related to the word fare in its oldest sense, which is to pass through, to go through, as in, How did you fare at the dentist’s? or Fare-thee-well or, He fared in this life like one whose name was writ in water.

Fear O.E. fær "danger, peril," from P.Gmc. *færa (cf. O.S. far "ambush," O.N. far "harm, distress, deception," Ger. Gefahr "danger"), from PIE base *per- "to try, risk, come over, go through" (perhaps connected with Gk. peira "trial, attempt, experience," L. periculum "trial, risk, danger"). Sense of "uneasiness caused by possible danger" developed late 12c. The verb is from O.E. færan "terrify, frighten," originally transitive (sense preserved in archaic I fear me). Sense of "feel fear" is late 14c. Related: Feared; fearing. O.E. words for "fear" as we now use it were ege, fyrhto; as a verb, ondrædan.

Earlier in this response to Ruefle I have referenced יָרֵא or yare, one of the twenty-six words translated as fear in the Hebrew Bible.

The oldest meaning of yare is to pour water or shoot a bow and arrow. Fear is the release of energy.

Released where, how, why?  We get to decide: where to pour the water, target of our arrow, the purpose to which our fear is unleashed.

When still a boy - 10 to 12 - I won archery contests.  What I recall most is the deep calm and quiet that enveloped me in taking aim and releasing the arrow to the wind.

With the bow I was the source of energy. Where I faced, how I stood and when I opened my hand decided where the arrow would go.

In terms of accuracy, most important was how I opened my hand.  A gentle, generous release was best.