Chapter 569

6. A failing; a slight fault. [Obs.]

Johnson.

Fain <Xpage=537>

Fain (?) , a. [OE. fain , fagen , AS. f\'91gen ; akin to OS. fagan , Icel. faginn glad; AS. f\'91gnian to rejoice, OS. fagan&omac;n , Icel. fagna , Goth. fagin&omac;n , cf. Goth. fah&emac;ds joy; and fr. the same root as E. fair . Srr Fair , a. , and cf. Fawn to court favor.] 1. Well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined.

Men and birds are fain of climbing high. Shak.

To a busy man, temptation is fain to climb up together with his business. Jer. Taylor.

2. Satisfied; contented; also, constrained.

Shak.

The learned Castalio was fain to make trechers at Basle to keep himself from starving. Locke.

Fain <Xpage=537>

Fain , adv. With joy; gladly; -- with wold .

He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat. Luke xv. 16.

Fain Would I woo her, yet I dare not. Shak.

Fain <Xpage=537>

Fain , v. t. & i. To be glad ; to wish or desire. [Obs.]

Whoso fair thing does fain to see. Spencer.

Fain\'82ant <Xpage=537>

Fai`n\'82`ant" (?) , a. [F.; fait he does + n\'82ant nothing.] Doing nothing; shiftless. -- n. A do-nothing; an idle fellow; a sluggard.

Sir W. Scott.

Faint <Xpage=537>

Faint (?) , a. [ Compar. Fainter (-?r) ; superl. Faintest .] [OE. faint , feint , false, faint, F. feint , p.p. of feindre to feign, suppose, hesitate. See Faign , and cf. Feint .] 1. Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst .

2. Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed; as, " Faint heart ne'er won fair lady ."

Old Proverb.

3. Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound .

4. Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance.

The faint prosecution of the war. Sir J. Davies.

Faint <Xpage=537>

Faint , n. The act of fainting, or the state of one who has fainted; a swoon. [R.] See Fainting , n.

The saint, Who propped the Virgin in her faint . Sir W. Scott.

Faint <Xpage=537>

Faint , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fainted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fainting .] 1. To become weak or wanting in vigor; to grow feeble; to lose strength and color, and the control of the bodily or mental functions; to swoon; -- sometimes with away . See Fainting , n.

Hearing the honor intended her, she fainted away. Guardian.

If I send them away fasting . . . they will faint by the way. Mark viii. 8.

<page="538"> Page 538

2. To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent.

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Prov. xxiv. 10.

3. To decay; to disappear; to vanish.

Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye. Pope.

Faint <Xpage=538>

Faint (?) , v. t. To cause to faint or become dispirited; to depress; to weaken. [Obs.]

It faints me to think what follows. Shak.

Fainthearted <Xpage=538>

Faint"*heart`ed (?) , a. Wanting in courage; depressed by fear; easily discouraged or frightened; cowardly; timorous; dejected.

Fear not, neither be faint-hearted . Is. vii. 4.

-- Faint"*heart`ed*ly , adv. -- Faint"*heart`ed*ness , n.

Fainting <Xpage=538>

Faint"ing (?) , n. Syncope, or loss of consciousness owing to a sudden arrest of the blood supply to the brain, the face becoming pallid, the respiration feeble, and the heat's beat weak.

Fainting fit , a fainting or swoon; syncope. [Colloq.]

Faintish <Xpage=538>

Faint"ish , a. Slightly faint; somewhat faint. -- Faint"ish*ness , n.

Faintling <Xpage=538>

Faint"ling (?) , a. Timorous; feeble-minded. [Obs.] "A fainting , silly creature."

Arbuthnot.

Faintly <Xpage=538>

Faint"ly , adv. In a faint, weak, or timidmanner.

Faintness <Xpage=538>

Faint"ness , n. 1. The state of being faint; loss of strength, or of consciousness, and self-control.

2. Want of vigor or energy.

Spenser.

3. Feebleness, as of color or light; lack of distinctness; as, faintness of description .

4. Faint-heartedness; timorousness; dejection.

I will send a faintness into their hearts. Lev. xxvi. 36.

Faints <Xpage=538>

Faints (?) , n.pl. The impure spirit which comes over first and last in the distillation of whisky; -- the former being called the strong faints , and the latter, which is much more abundant, the weak faints . This crude spirit is much impregnated with fusel oil.

Ure.

Fainty <Xpage=538>

Faint"y (?) , a. Feeble; languid. [R.]

Dryden.

Fair <Xpage=538>

Fair (?) , a. [ Compar. Fairer (?) ; superl. Fairest .] [OE. fair , fayer , fager , AS. f\'91ger ; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar , Isel. fagr , Sw. fager , Dan. faver , Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay , G. f\'81gen , to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and prob. also to E. fang , peace , pact , Cf. Fang , Fain , Fay to fit.] 1. Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure.

A fair white linen cloth. Book of Common Prayer.

2. Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.

Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made. Shak.

3. Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin .

The northern people large and fair -complexioned. Sir M. Hale.

4. Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; -- said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day.

You wish fair winds may waft him over. Prior.

5. Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered; open; direct; -- said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view.

The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged. Sir W. Raleigh.

6. (Shipbuilding) Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; fowing; -- said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.

7. Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor; open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; -- said of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a fair statement. "I would call it fair play."

Shak.

8. Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; -- said of words, promises, etc.

When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty. L' Estrange.

9. Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting .

10. Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen .

The news is very fair and good, my lord. Shak.

Fair ball . (Baseball) (a) A ball passing over the home base at the height called for by the batsman, and delivered by the pitcher while wholly within the lines of his position and facing the batsman. (b) A batted ball that falls inside the foul lines; -- called also a fair hit . -- Fair maid . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The European pilchard ( Clupea pilchardus ) when dried. (b) The southern scup ( Stenotomus Gardeni ). [ Virginia ] -- Fair one , a handsome woman; a beauty, -- Fair play , equitable or impartial treatment; a fair or equal chance; justice. -- From fair to middling , passable; tolerable. [Colloq.] -- The fair sex , the female sex.

Syn. -- Candid; open; frank; ingenuous; clear; honest; equitable; impartial; reasonable. See Candid .

Fair <Xpage=538>

Fair , adv. Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably.

Fair and square , justly; honestly; equitably; impartially. [Colloq.] -- To bid fair . See under Bid . -- To speak fair , to address with courtesy and frankness. [Archaic]

Fair <Xpage=538>

Fair , n. 1. Fairness, beauty. [Obs.]

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 <Xpage=538>

Fair , v. t. 1. To make fair or beautiful. [Obs.]

Fairing the foul. Shak.

2. (Shipbuilding) To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.

Fair <Xpage=538>

Fair , n. [OE. feire , OF. feire , F. foire , fr. L. fariae , pl., 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-haired <Xpage=538>

Fair"-haired` (?) , a. Having fair or light-colored hair.

Fairhood <Xpage=538>

Fair"hood (?) , n. Fairness; beauty. [Obs.]

Foxe.

Fairily <Xpage=538>

Fair"i*ly (?) , adv. In the manner of a fairy.

Numerous as shadows haunting fairily The brain . Keats.

Fairing <Xpage=538>

Fair"ing , n. 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 <Xpage=538>

Fair"ish , a. Tolerably fair. [Colloq.]

W. D. Howells.

Fair-leader <Xpage=538>

Fair"-lead`er (?) , n. (Naut.) A block, or ring, serving as a guide for the running rigging or for any rope.

Fairly <Xpage=538>

Fair"ly , adv. 1. In a fairmanner; 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 traade .

3. Honestly; properly.

Such means of comfort or even luxury, as lay fairly within their grasp. Hawthorne.

4. Softly; quietly; gently. [Obs.]

Milton.

Fair-minded <Xpage=538>

Fair"-mind`ed (?) , a. Unprejudiced; just; judicial; honest. -- Fair"*mind`ed*ness , n.

Fair-natured <Xpage=538>

Fair"-na`tured (?) , a. Well-disposed. "A fair-natured prince."

Ford.

Fairness <Xpage=538>

Fair"ness , n. 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.

Faair-spoken <Xpage=538>

Faair"-spo`ken (?) , a. Using fair speech, or uttered with fairness; bland; civil; courteous; plausible. "A marvelous fair-spoken man."

Hooker.

Fairway <Xpage=538>

Fair"way` (?) , n. 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.

<-- [2]. That part of a golf course between the tee and the green which is of closely mowed grass, as contrasted to the rough . -->

Fair-weather <Xpage=538>

Fair"-weath`er (?) , a. 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 <Xpage=538>

Fair"-world` (?) n. State of prosperity. [Obs.]

They think it was never fair-world with them since. Milton.

Fairy <Xpage=538>

Fair"y (?) , n. ; pl. Fairies (#) . [OE. fairie , faierie , enchantment, fairy folk, fairy, OF. faerie enchantment, F. f\'82er , fr. LL. Fata one of the goddesses of fate. See Fate , and cf. Fay a fairy.] [Written also fa\'89ry .] 1. Enchantment; illusion. [Obs.]

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. [Obs.]

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. [Obs.]

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 <Xpage=538>

Fair"y , a. 1. Of or pertaining to fairies.

2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money .

Dryden.

Fairy bird (Zo\'94l.) , the Euoropean little tern ( Sterna minuta ); -- called also sea swallow , and hooded tern . -- Fairy bluebird . (Zo\'94l.) See under Bluebird . -- Fairy martin (Zo\'94l.) , 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 (Zo\'94l.) , 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 <Xpage=538>

Fair"y*land` (?) n. The imaginary land or abode of fairies.

Fairylike <Xpage=538>

Fair"y*like` (?) , a. Resembling a fairy, or what is made or done be fairies; as, fairylike music .

Faith <Xpage=538>

Faith (?) , n. [OE. feith , fayth , fay , OF. feid , feit , fei , F. foi , fr. L. fides ; akin to fidere to trust, Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/<?/<?/ to persuade. The ending th is perhaps due to the influence of such words as truth , health , wealth . See Bid , Bide , and cf. 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]. Heb. 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-f\'82 . -- 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 healing, faith healer = faith cure. -->

Faith <Xpage=538>

Faith (?) , interj. By my faith; in truth; verily.

Faithed <Xpage=538>