Fair Fair noun 1. Fairness, beauty. [ Obsolete]
Shak. 2. A fair woman; a sweetheart. I have found out a gift for my fair .
Shenstone. 3. Good fortune; good luck. Now fair befall thee !
Shak. The fair ,
anything beautiful; women, collectively. "For slander's mark was ever yet
the fair ."
Shak.
Fair Fair transitive verb 1. To make fair or beautiful. [ Obsolete]
Fairing the foul.
Shak. 2. (Shipbuilding) To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.
Fair Fair noun [ Middle English
feire , Old French
feire , French
foire , from Latin
fariae , plural, days of rest, holidays, festivals, akin to
festus festal. See
Feast .]
1. A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place with their merchandise at a stated or regular season, or by special appointment, for trade. 2. A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair . 3. A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair ; an agricultural fair . After the fair ,
Too late. [ Colloq.]
Fair catch Fair catch (Football) A catch made by a player on side who makes a prescribed signal that he will not attempt to advance the ball when caught. He must not then be interfered with.
Fair-haired Fair"-haired` adjective Having fair or light-colored hair.
Fair-leader Fair"-lead`er noun (Nautical) A block, or ring, serving as a guide for the running rigging or for any rope.
Fair-minded Fair"-mind`ed adjective Unprejudiced; just; judicial; honest. --
Fair"- mind`ed*ness ,
noun
Fair-natured Fair"-na`tured adjective Well- disposed. "A
fair-natured prince."
Ford.
Fair-spoken Fair"-spo`ken adjective Using fair speech, or uttered with fairness; bland; civil; courteous; plausible. "A marvelous
fair-spoken man."
Hooker.
Fair-weather Fair"-weath`er adjective 1. Made or done in pleasant weather, or in circumstances involving but little exposure or sacrifice; as, a fair-weather voyage. Pope. 2. Appearing only when times or circumstances are prosperous; as, a fair-weather friend. Fair-weather sailor ,
a make-believe or inexperienced sailor; -- the nautical equivalent of carpet knight .
Fair-world Fair"-world` noun State of prosperity. [ Obsolete]
They think it was never fair-world with them since.
Milton.
Fairhood Fair"hood noun Fairness; beauty. [ Obsolete]
Foxe.
Fairily Fair"i·ly adverb In the manner of a fairy. Numerous as shadows haunting fairily
The brain .
Keats.
Fairing Fair"ing noun A present; originally, one given or purchased at a fair. Gay. Fairing box ,
a box receiving savings or small sums of money. Hannah More.
Fairish Fair"ish adjective Tolerably fair. [ Colloq.]
W. D. Howells.
Fairly Fair"ly adverb 1. In a fair manner; clearly; openly; plainly; fully; distinctly; frankly. Even the nature of Mr. Dimmesdale's disease had never fairly been revealed to him.
Hawthorne. 2. Favorably; auspiciously; commodiously; as, a town fairly situated for foreign trade. 3. Honestly; properly. Such means of comfort or even luxury, as lay fairly within their grasp.
Hawthorne. 4. Softly; quietly; gently. [ Obsolete]
Milton.
Fairness Fair"ness noun The state of being fair, or free form spots or stains, as of the skin; honesty, as of dealing; candor, as of an argument, etc.
Fairway Fair"way` noun The navigable part of a river, bay, etc., through which vessels enter or depart; the part of a harbor or channel ehich is kept open and unobstructed for the passage of vessels. Totten.
Fairy Fair"y noun ;
plural Fairies . [ Middle English
fairie ,
faierie , enchantment, fairy folk, fairy, Old French
faerie enchantment, French
féer , from Late Latin
Fata one of the goddesses of fate. See
Fate , and confer
Fay a fairy.] [ Written also
faëry .]
1. Enchantment; illusion. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer. The God of her has made an end,
And fro this worlde's fairy
Hath taken her into company.
Gower. 2. The country of the fays; land of illusions. [ Obsolete]
He [ Arthur] is a king y-crowned in Fairy .
Lydgate. 3. An imaginary supernatural being or spirit, supposed to assume a human form (usually diminutive), either male or female, and to meddle for good or evil in the affairs of mankind; a fay. See Elf , and Demon . The fourth kind of spirit [ is] called the Fairy .
K. James. And now about the caldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring.
Shak. 5. An enchantress. [ Obsolete]
Shak. Fairy of the mine ,
an imaginary being supposed to inhabit mines, etc. German folklore tells of two species; one fierce and malevolent, the other gentle, See Kobold . No goblin or swart fairy of the mine
Hath hurtful power over true virginity.
Milton.
Fairy Fair"y adjective 1. Of or pertaining to fairies. 2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money. Dryden. Fairy bird (Zoology) ,
the Euoropean little tern ( Sterna minuta ); -- called also sea swallow , and hooded tern . --
Fairy bluebird .
(Zoology) See under Bluebird . --
Fairy martin (Zoology) ,
a European swallow ( Hirrundo ariel ) that builds flask-shaped nests of mud on overhanging cliffs. --
Fairy rings or circles ,
the circles formed in grassy lawns by certain fungi (as Marasmius Oreades ), formerly supposed to be caused by fairies in their midnight dances. --
Fairy shrimp (Zoology) ,
a European fresh-water phyllopod crustacean ( Chirocephalus diaphanus ); -- so called from its delicate colors, transparency, and graceful motions. The name is sometimes applied to similar American species. --
Fairy stone (Paleon.) ,
an echinite.
Fairyland Fair"y·land` noun The imaginary land or abode of fairies.
Fairylike Fair"y·like` adjective Resembling a fairy, or what is made or done be fairies; as, fairylike music.
Faith Faith (fāth)
noun [ Middle English
feith ,
fayth ,
fay , Old French
feid ,
feit ,
fei , French
foi , from Latin
fides ; akin to
fidere to trust, Greek
pei`qein to persuade. The ending
th is perhaps due to the influence of such words as
truth ,
health ,
wealth . See
Bid ,
Bide , and confer
Confide ,
Defy ,
Fealty .]
1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting solely and implicitly on his authority and veracity; reliance on testimony. 2. The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he utters; firm and earnest belief, on probable evidence of any kind, especially in regard to important moral truth. Faith , that is, fidelity, -- the fealty of the finite will and understanding to the reason.
Coleridge. 3. (Theol.) (a) The belief in the historic truthfulness of the Scripture narrative, and the supernatural origin of its teachings, sometimes called historical and speculative faith. (b) The belief in the facts and truth of the Scriptures, with a practical love of them; especially, that confiding and affectionate belief in the person and work of Christ, which affects the character and life, and makes a man a true Christian, -- called a practical , evangelical , or saving faith. Without faith it is impossible to please him [ God].
Hebrew xi. 6. The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind which is called "trust" or "confidence" exercised toward the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior.
Dr. T. Dwight. Faith is an affectionate, practical confidence in the testimony of God.
J. Hawes. 4. That which is believed on any subject, whether in science, politics, or religion; especially (Theol.) , a system of religious belief of any kind; as, the Jewish or Mohammedan faith ; and especially, the system of truth taught by Christ; as, the Christian faith ; also, the creed or belief of a Christian society or church. Which to believe of her,
Must be a faith that reason without miracle
Could never plant in me.
Shak. Now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
Gal. i. 23. 5. Fidelity to one's promises, or allegiance to duty, or to a person honored and beloved; loyalty. Children in whom is no faith .
Deut. xxvii. 20. Whose failing, while her faith to me remains,
I should conceal.
Milton. 6. Word or honor pledged; promise given; fidelity; as, he violated his faith . For you alone
I broke me faith with injured Palamon.
Dryden. 7. Credibility or truth. [ R.]
The faith of the foregoing narrative.
Mitford. Act of faith .
See Auto-da- fé . --
Breach of faith ,
Confession of faith ,
etc. See under Breach , Confession , etc. --
Faith cure ,
a method or practice of treating diseases by prayer and the exercise of faith in God. --
In good faith ,
with perfect sincerity.
Faith Faith interj. By my faith; in truth; verily.
Faithed Faithed adjective Having faith or a faith; honest; sincere. [ Obsolete] "Make thy words
faithed ."
Shak.
Faithful Faith"ful adjective 1. Full of faith, or having faith; disposed to believe, especially in the declarations and promises of God. You are not faithful , sir.
B. Jonson. 2. Firm in adherence to promises, oaths, contracts, treaties, or other engagements. The faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him.
Deut. vii. 9. 3. True and constant in affection or allegiance to a person to whom one is bound by a vow, by ties of love, gratitude, or honor, as to a husband, a prince, a friend; firm in the observance of duty; loyal; of true fidelity; as, a faithful husband or servant. So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found,
Among the faithless, faithful only he.
Milton. 4. Worthy of confidence and belief; conformable to truth ot fact; exact; accurate; as, a faithful narrative or representation. It is a faithful saying.
2 Tim. ii. 11. The Faithful ,
the adherents of any system of religious belief; esp. used as an epithet of the followers of Mohammed. Syn. -- Trusty; honest; upright; sincere; veracious; trustworthy. --
Faith"ful*ly ,
adverb -
Faith"ful*ness ,
noun
Faithless Faith"less adjective 1. Not believing; not giving credit. Be not faithless , but believing.
John xx. 27. 2. Not believing on God or religion; specifically, not believing in the Christian religion. Shak. 3. Not observant of promises or covenants. 4. Not true to allegiance, duty, or vows; perfidious; trecherous; disloyal; not of true fidelity; inconstant, as a husband or a wife. A most unnatural and faithless service.
Shak. 5. Serving to disappoint or deceive; delusive; unsatisfying. "Yonder
faithless phantom."
Goldsmith. --
Faith"less*ly ,
adverb Faith"less*ness ,
noun
Faitour Fai"tour noun [ Old French
faitor a doer, Latin
factor . See
Factor .]
A doer or actor; particularly, an evil doer; a scoundrel. [ Obsolete]
Lo! faitour , there thy meed unto thee take.
Spenser.
Fake Fake noun [ Confer Scot.
faik fold, stratum of stone, Anglo-Saxon
fæc space, interval, German
fach compartment, partition, row, and English
fay to fit.]
(Nautical) One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies in a coil; a single turn or coil.
Fake Fake transitive verb (Nautical) To coil (a rope, line, or hawser), by winding alternately in opposite directions, in layers usually of zigzag or figure of eight form,, to prevent twisting when running out. Faking box ,
a box in which a long rope is faked; used in the life-saving service for a line attached to a shot.
Fake Fake transitive verb [ Confer Gael.
faigh to get, acquire, reach, or OD.
facken to catch or gripe.] [
Slang in all its senses. ]
1. To cheat; to swindle; to steal; to rob. 2. To make; to construct; to do. 3. To manipulate fraudulently, so as to make an object appear better or other than it really is; as, to fake a bulldog, by burning his upper lip and thus artificially shortening it.
Fake Fake noun A trick; a swindle. [ Slang]
Faker Fak"er noun [ Often erroneously written
fakir .]
One who fakes something, as a thief, a peddler of petty things, a workman who dresses things up, etc. [ Slang]
Fakir Fa"kir noun [ Arabic
faqīr poor.]
An Oriental religious ascetic or begging monk. [ Written also
faquir anf
fakeer .]
Fakir Fa"kir noun [ Prob. confused with
Fakir an oriental ascetic.]
See Faker .
Fal-lals Fal"-lals` noun plural Gay ornaments; frippery; gewgaws. [ Colloq.]
Thackeray.
Falanaka Fa"la·na"ka noun [ Native name.]
(Zoology) A viverrine mammal of Madagascar ( Eupleres Goudotii ), allied to the civet; -- called also Falanouc .
Falcade Fal·cade" (făl*kād")
noun [ French, ultimately from Latin
falx ,
falcis , a sickle or scythe.]
(Man.) The action of a horse, when he throws himself on his haunches two or three times, bending himself, as it were, in very quick curvets. Harris.
Falcate, Falcated Fal"cate, Fal"ca·ted adjective [ Latin
falcatus , from
falx ,
falcis , a sickle or scythe.]
Hooked or bent like a sickle; as, a falcate leaf; a falcate claw; -- said also of the moon, or a planet, when horned or crescent- formed.
Falcation Fal·ca"tion noun The state of being falcate; a bend in the form of a sickle. Sir T. Browne.
Falcer Fal"cer noun [ From Latin
falx ,
falcis , a sickle.]
(Zoology) One of the mandibles of a spider.
Falchion Fal"chion noun [ Middle English
fauchon , Old French
fauchon , Late Latin
fälcio , from Latin
falx ,
falcis , a sickle, confer Greek .................. a ship's rib, .................. bandy-legged; perh, akin to English
falcon ; confer Italian
falcione . Confer
Defalcation .]
1. A broad-bladed sword, slightly curved, shorter and lighter than the ordinary sword; -- used in the Middle Ages. 2. A name given generally and poetically to a sword, especially to the swords of Oriental and fabled warriors.
Falcidian Fal·cid"i·an adjective [ Latin
Falcidius .]
Of or pertaining to Publius Falcidius, a Roman tribune. Falcidian law (Civil Law) ,
a law by which a testator was obliged to leave at least a fourth of his estate to the heir. Burrill.
Falciform Fal"ci·form adjective [ Latin
falx ,
falcis , a sickle +
-form : confer French
falciforme .]
Having the shape of a scithe or sickle; resembling a reaping hook; as, the falciform ligatment of the liver.
Falcon Fal"con noun [ Middle English
faucon ,
faucoun , Old French
faucon ,
falcon , ....
faucon , from Late Latin
falco , perhaps from Latin
falx, falcis , a sickle or scythe, and named from its curving talons. Confer
Falchion .]
1. (Zoology) (a) One of a family ( Falconidæ ) of raptorial birds, characterized by a short, hooked beak, strong claws, and powerful flight. (b) Any species of the genus Falco , distinguished by having a toothlike lobe on the upper mandible; especially, one of this genus trained to the pursuit of other birds, or game. In the language of falconry, the female peregrine ( Falco peregrinus ) is exclusively called the falcon .
Yarrell. 2. (Gun.) An ancient form of cannon. Chanting falcon .
(Zoology) See under Chanting .
Falconer Fal"con·er noun [ Middle English
fauconer , Old French
falconier ,
fauconier , French
fauconnier . See
Falcon .]
A person who breeds or trains hawks for taking birds or game; one who follows the sport of fowling with hawks. Johnson.
Falconet Fal"co·net noun [ Dim. of
falcon : confer French
fauconneau , Late Latin
falconeta , properly, a young falcon.]
1. One of the smaller cannon used in the 15th century and later. 2. (Zoology) (a) One of several very small Asiatic falcons of the genus Microhierax . (b) One of a group of Australian birds of the genus Falcunculus , resembling shrikes and titmice.
Falcongentil Fal"con·gen`til noun [ French
faucon- gentil . See
Falcon , and
Genteel .]
(Zoology) The female or young of the goshawk ( Astur palumbarius ).
Falconine Fal"co·nine adjective (Zoology) Like a falcon or hawk; belonging to the Falconidæ
Falconry Fal"con·ry noun [ Confer French
fauconnerie . See
Falcon .]
1. The art of training falcons or hawks to pursue and attack wild fowl or game. 2. The sport of taking wild fowl or game by means of falcons or hawks.
Use the search box below if you want to search in Websters only, use the search box at the right to search all of Enyclo.
