I would like to begin this paper with a brief presentation of its main sections and a short discussion of how they are interrelated. The first section consists of an analysis of the terms rädd (afraid), rädd för (afraid of). rädd att (afraid that) rädd för att (afraid that). räds (to be frightened) and rädsla (fear) as they appear in contexts taken from Press 65 and Press 76 Språkdata Gothenburg Univ. The aim of this analysis is to reveal the basic or common dimensions underlying these tenns. Af ter a rather detailed analysis of these cantexts where a num.her of ditnenslons are hypothesized I a discussionof the relationships between the various terms is taken up. This discussion centers mainly around the distinctions concerning Synonymy, Homonymy, Polysemy and Vagueness. Drawing upon the hypothesized dimensions underlying these terms a Folk Theory of Fear is outlined. The paper conc1udes with a presentation of a sernantic field of "fear" vocabl1lary in Swedish.