F E R T
Preserved but no longer current.
Fen (Lat. he bears) is an ancient motto of the House of Savoy; but the letters, have also been interpreted as standing for the initials of Fortitudo Ejus Rhodum Tenuit, in allusion to the succour rendered to Rhodes by Savoy in 1310; Fcedere et Religions Tenemur, on the gold doubloon of Victor Amadeus I (1718-1730); or, Fortitudo Ejus Rempublicam Tenet.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “F E R T” mean?
Fen (Lat. he bears) is an ancient motto of the House of Savoy; but the letters, have also been interpreted as standing for the initials of Fortitudo Ejus Rhodum Tenuit, in allusion to the succour rendered to Rhodes by Savoy in 1310; Fcedere et Religions Tenemur, on the gold doubloon of Victor Amadeus I (1718-1730); or, Fortitudo Ejus Rempublicam Tenet.
Is “F E R T” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.