Chapter 590

Field"fare` (?; 277) , n. [OE. feldfare , AS. feldfare ; field + faran to travel.] (Zo\'94l.) a small thrush ( Turdus pilaris ) which breeds in northern Europe and winters in Great Britain. The head, nape, and lower part of the back are ash-colored; the upper part of the back and wing coverts, chestnut; -- called also fellfare .

Fielding <Xpage=557>

Field"ing , n. (Ball Playing) The act of playing as a fielder.

Fieldpiece <Xpage=557>

Field"piece` (?) , n. A cannon mounted on wheels, for the use of a marching army; a piece of field artillery; -- called also field gun .

Fieldwork <Xpage=557>

Field"work` (?) , n. (Mil.) Any temporary fortification thrown up by an army in the field; -- commonly in the plural.

All works which do not come under the head of permanent fortification are called fieldworks . Wilhelm.

Fieldy <Xpage=557>

Field"y (?) , a. Open, like a field. [Obs.]

Wyclif.

Fiend <Xpage=557>

Fiend (?) , n. [OE. fend , find , fiend , feond , fiend, foe, AS. fe\'a2nd ; akin to OS. f\'c6ond , D. vijand enemy, OHG. f\'c6ant , G. feind , Icel. fj\'bend , Sw. & Dan. fiende , Goth. fijands ; orig. p.pr. of a verb meaning to hate , AS. fe\'a2n , fe\'a2gan , OHG. f\'c6<?/n , Goth. fijan , Skr. p\'c6y to scorn; prob. akin to E. feud a quarrel. \'fb81. Cf. Foe , Friend .] An implacable or malicious foe; one who is diabolically wicked or cruel; an infernal being; -- applied specifically to the devil or a demon.

Into this wild abyss the wary fiend Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while. Milton.

O woman! woman! when to ill thy mind Is bent, all hell contains no fouler fiend . Pope.

Fiendful <Xpage=557>

Fiend"ful (?) , a. Full of fiendish spirit or arts.

Marlowe.

-- Fiend"ful*ly , adv.

Fiendish <Xpage=557>

Fiend"ish (?) , a. Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal; malignant; devilish; hellish. -- Fiend"ish*ly , adv. -- Fiend"ish*ness , n.

Fiendlike <Xpage=557>

Fiend"like` (?) , a. Fiendish; diabolical.

Longfellow.

Fiendly <Xpage=557>

Fiend"ly , a. [AS. fe\'a2ndlic .] Fiendlike; monstrous; devilish. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Fierasfer <Xpage=557>

Fi`e*ras"fer (?) , n. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of small, slender fishes, remarkable for their habit of living as commensals in other animals. One species inhabits the gill cavity of the pearl oyster near Panama; another lives within an East Indian holothurian.

Fierce <Xpage=557>

Fierce (?) , a. [ Compar. Fiercer (?) ; superl. Fiercest (?) .] [OE. fers , fiers , OF. fier , nom. fiers , fierce, savage, cruel, F. fier proud, from L. ferus wild, savage, cruel; perh. akin to E. bear the animal. Cf. Feral , Ferocity .] 1. Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as, a fierce wind .

His fierce thunder drove us to the deep. Milton.

2. Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or injure; of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious. "A fierce whisper." Dickens. "A fierce tyrant." Pope.

The fierce foe hung upon our broken rear. Milton.

Thou huntest me as a fierce lion. Job. x. 16.

3. Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent.

Syn. -- Ferocious; savage; cruel; vehement; impetuous; barbarous; fell. See Ferocious .

-- Fierce"ly , adv. -- Fierce"ness , n.

Fieri facias <Xpage=557>

Fi"e*ri fa"ci*as (?) . [L., cause it to be done.] (Law) A judicial writ that lies for one who has recovered in debt or damages, commanding the sheriff that he cause to be made of the goods, chattels, or real estate of the defendant, the sum claimed.

Blackstone. Cowell.

Fieriness <Xpage=557>

Fi"er*i*ness (?) , n. The quality of being fiery; heat; acrimony; irritability; as, a fieriness of temper .

Addison.

Fiery <Xpage=557>

Fi"er*y (? &or; ?) , a. [Formerly written firy , fr. fire .] 1. Consisting of, containing, or resembling, fire; as, the fiery gulf of Etna; a fiery appearance.

And fiery billows roll below. I. Watts.

2. Vehement; ardent; very active; impetuous.

Hath thy fiery heart so parched thine entrails? Shak.

The fiery spirit of his forefathers. W. Irwing.

3. Passionate; easily provoked; irritable.

You kniw the fiery quality of the duke. Shak.

4. Unrestrained; fierce; mettlesome; spirited.

One curbed the fiery steed. Dryden.

5. heated by fire, or as if by fire; burning hot; parched; feverish.

Pope.

The sword which is made fiery . Hooker.

Fiery cross , a cross constructed of two firebrands, and pitched upon the point of a spear; formerly in Scotland borne by a runner as a signal for the clan to take up arms.

Sir W. Scott.

Fife <Xpage=557>

Fife (?) , n. [F. fifre , OHG. pf\'c6fa , LL. pipa pipe, pipare to play on the pipe, fr. L. pipire , pipare , to peep, pip, chirp, as a chiken. See Pipe .] (Mus.) A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music.

Fife major (Mil.) , a noncommissioned officer who superintends the fifers of a regiment. -- Fife rail . (Naut.) (a) A rail about the mast, at the deck, to hold belaying pins, etc. (b) A railing around the break of a poop deck.

Fife <Xpage=557>

Fife , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fifed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. fifing .] To play on a fife.

Fifer <Xpage=557>

Fif"er (?) , n. One who plays on a fife.

Fifteen <Xpage=557>

Fif"teen` (?) , a. [OE. fiftene , AS. f\'c6ft<?/ne , f\'c6ft<?/ne . See Five , and Ten , and cf. Fifty .] Five and ten; one more than fourteen.

Fifteen <Xpage=557>

Fif"teen` , n. 1. The sum of five and ten; fifteen units or objects.

2. A symbol representing fifteen units, as 15, or xv.

Fifteenth <Xpage=557>

Fif"teenth` (?) , a. [OE. fiftenthe ; cf. fiftethe , AS. f\'c6fte<?/<?/a . See Fifteen .] 1. Next in order after the fourteenth; -- the ordinal of fifteen.

2. Consisting of one of fifteen equal parts or divisions of a thing.

Fifteenth <Xpage=557>

Fif"teenth` , n. 1. One of fifteen equal parts or divisions; the quotient of a unit divided by fifteen.

2. A species of tax upon personal property formerly laid on towns, boroughs, etc., in England, being one fifteenth part of what the personal property in each town, etc., had been valued at.

Burrill.

3. (Mus.) (a) A stop in an organ tuned two octaves above the diaposon. (b) An interval consisting of two octaves.

Fifth <Xpage=557>

Fifth (?) , a. [OE. fifte , fifthe , AS. f\'c6fta . See Five .] 1. Next in order after the fourth; -- the ordinal of five.

2. Consisting of one of five equal divisions of a thing.

Fifth monarchy men (Hist.) , a fanatical sect in England, of the time of the commonwealth, who maintained that there would be a fifth universal monarchy, during which Christ would reign on earth a thousand years. -- Fifth wheel , a horizontal wheel or segment above the fore axle of a carriage and beneath the body, forming an extended support to prevent careening.

Fifth <Xpage=557>

Fifth (?) , n. 1. The quotient of a unit divided by five; one of five equal parts; a fifth part. <-- a fifth of whiskey = a fifth of a gallon -->

2. (Mus.) The interval of three tones and a semitone, embracing five diatonic degrees of the scale; the dominant of any key.

Fifthly <Xpage=557>

Fifth"ly , adv. In the fifth place; as the fifth in order.

Fiftieth <Xpage=557>

Fif"ti*eth (?) , a. [AS. f\'c6ftigo<?/a . See Fifty .] 1. Next in order after the forty-ninth; -- the ordinal of fifty.

2. Consisting of one of fifty equal parts or divisions.

Fiftieth <Xpage=557>

Fif"ti*eth , n. One of fifty equal parts; the quotient of a unit divided by fifty.

Fifty <Xpage=557>

Fif"ty (?) , a. [AS. f\'c6ftig ; akin to OHG. finfzug , fimfzug , G. f\'81nfzig , funfzig , Goth. fimftigjus . See Five , and Ten , and cf. Fifteen .] Five times ten; as, fifty men .

Fifty <Xpage=557>

Fif"ty , n. ; pl. Fifties (<?/) . 1. The sum of five tens; fifty units or objects.

2. A symbol representing fifty units, as 50, or l.

Fig <Xpage=557>

Fig (?) , n. [F. figue the fruit of the tree, Pr. figa , fr. L. ficus fig tree, fig. Cf. Fico .] 1. (Bot.) A small fruit tree ( Ficus Carica ) with large leaves, known from the remotest antiquity. It was probably native from Syria westward to the Canary Islands.

2. The fruit of a fig tree, which is of round or oblong shape, and of various colors.

&hand; The fruit of a fig tree is really the hollow end of a stem, and bears numerous achenia inside the cavity. Many species have little, hard, inedible figs, and in only a few does the fruit become soft and pulpy. The fruit of the cultivated varieties is much prized in its fresh state, and also when dried or preserved. See Caprification .

3. A small piece of tobacco. [U.S.]

4. The value of a fig, practically nothing; a fico; -- used in scorn or contempt. "A fig for Peter."

Shak.

Cochineal fig . See Conchineal fig . -- Fig dust , a preparation of fine oatmeal for feeding caged birds. -- Fig faun , one of a class of rural deities or monsters supposed to live on figs. "Therefore shall dragons dwell there with the fig fauns ." Jer. i. 39. (Douay version). -- Fig gnat (Zo\'94l.) , a small fly said to be injurious to figs. -- Fig leaf , the leaf tree; hence, in allusion to the first clothing of Adam and Eve (Genesis iii.7), a covering for a thing that ought to be concealed; esp., an inadequate covering; a symbol for affected modesty. -- Fig marigold (Bot.) , the name of several plants of the genus Mesembryanthemum , some of which are prized for the brilliancy and beauty of their flowers. -- Fig tree (Bot.) , any tree of the genus Ficus , but especially F. Carica which produces the fig of commerce.

Fig <Xpage=557>

Fig , v. t. [See Fico , Fig , n. ] 1. To insult with a fico, or contemptuous motion. See Fico . [Obs.]

When Pistol lies, do this, and fig me like The bragging Spaniard. Shak.

2. To put into the head of, as something useless o<?/ contemptible. [Obs.]

L'Estrange.

Fig <Xpage=557>

Fig , n. Figure; dress; array. [Colloq.]

Were they all in full fig , the females with feathers on their heads, the males with chapeaux bras? Prof. Wilson.

Figaro <Xpage=557>

Fi`ga`ro" (?) , n. [From the name of the barber in Beaumarchais' "Barber of Seville."] An adroi<?/ and unscrupulous intriguer.

Figary <Xpage=557>

Fig"a*ry (?) , n. [Corrupted fr. vagary .] A frolic; a vagary; a whim. [Obs.]

Beau. & Fl.

Figeater <Xpage=557>

Fig"eat`er (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A large beetle ( Allorhina nitida ) which in the Southern United States destroys figs. The elytra are velvety green with pale borders. (b) A bird. See Figpecker .

Figent <Xpage=557>

Fig"ent (?) , a. Fidgety; restless. [Obs.]

Such a little figent thing. Beau. & Fl.

Figgum <Xpage=557>

Fig"gum (?) , n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A juggler's trick; conjuring. [Obs.]

The devil is the author of wicked figgum . B. Jonson.

Fight <Xpage=557>

Fight (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fought (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fighting .] [OE. fihten , fehten , AS. feohtan ; akin to D. vechten , OHG. fehtan , G. fechten , Sw. f\'84kta , Dan. fegte , and perh. to E. fist ; cf. L. pugnare to fight, pugnus fist.] 1. To strive or contened for victory, with armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; -- followed by with or against .

You do fight against your country's foes. Shak.

To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. Milton.

2. To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make resistance.

To fight shy , to avoid meeting fairly or at close quarters; to keep out of reach.

Fight <Xpage=557>

Fight , v. t. 1. To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause.

He had to fight his way through the world. Macaulay.

I have fought a good fight. 2 Tim. iv. 7.

2. To contend with in battle; to war against; as, they fought the enemy in two pitched battles; the sloop fought the frigate for three hours.

3. To cause to fight; to manage or maneuver in a fight; as, to fight cocks; to fight one's ship.

To fight it out , to fight until a decisive and conclusive result is reached.

<page="558"> Page 558

Fight <Xpage=558>

Fight , n. [OE. fight , feht , AS. feoht . See Fight , v. i. ] 1. A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a combat; a violent conflict or struggle for victory, between individuals or between armies, ships, or navies, etc.

Who now defies thee thrice to single fight . Milton.

2. A struggle or contest of any kind.

3. Strength or disposition for fighting; pugnacity; as, he has a great deal of fight in him . [Colloq.]

4. A screen for the combatants in ships. [Obs.]

Up with your fights , and your nettings prepare. Dryden.

Running fight , a fight in which the enemy is continually chased; also, one which continues without definite end or result.

Syn. -- Combat; engagement; contest; struggle; encounter; fray; affray; action; conflict. See Battle .

Fighter <Xpage=558>

Fight"er (?) , n. [AS. feohtere .] One who fights; a combatant; a warrior.

Shak.

Fighting <Xpage=558>

Fight"ing , a. 1. Qualified for war; fit for battle.

An host of fighting men. 2 Chron. xxvi. 11.

2. Occupied in war; being the scene of a battle; as, a fighting field .

Pope.

A fighting chance , one dependent upon the issue of a struggle. [Colloq.] -- Fighting crab (Zo\'94l.) , the fiddler crab. -- Fighting fish (Zo\'94l.) , a remarkably pugnacious East Indian fish ( Betta pugnax ), reared by the Siamese for spectacular fish fights.

Fightingly <Xpage=558>

Fight"ing*ly , adv. Pugnaciously.

Fightwite <Xpage=558>

Fight"wite` (?) , n. [ Fight + wite .] (O.Eng. Law) A mulct or fine imposed on a person for making a fight or quarrel to the disturbance of the peace.

Figment <Xpage=558>

Fig"ment (?) , n. [L. figmentum , fr. fingere to form, shape, invent, feign. See Feign .] An invention; a fiction; something feigned or imagined.

Social figments , feints, and formalism. Mrs. Browning.

It carried rather an appearance of figment and invention . . . than of truth and reality. Woodward.

Pigpecker <Xpage=558>

Pig"peck`er (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The European garden warbler ( Sylvia, &or; Currica, hortensis ); -- called also beccafico and greater pettychaps .

Fig-shell <Xpage=558>

Fig"-shell` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A marine univalve shell of the genus Pyrula , or Ficula , resembling a fig in form.

Figulate, Figulated <Xpage=558>

Fig"u*late (?) , Fig"u*la`ted (?) , a. [L. figulatus , p.p. of figulare to shape, fr. figulus potter, fr. fingere to shape.] Made of potter's clay; molded; shaped. [R.]

Johnson.

Figuline <Xpage=558>

Fig"u*line (? &or; ?) , n. [F., fr. L. figulina pottery, fr. figulus . See Figulate .] A piece of pottery ornamented with representations of natural objects.

Whose figulines and rustic wares Scarce find him bread from day to day. Longfellow.

Figurability <Xpage=558>

Fig`ur*a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. figurabilit\'82 .] The quality of being figurable.

Johnson.

Figurable <Xpage=558>

Fig`ur*a*ble (?) , a. [L. figurare to form, shape, fr. figura figure: cf. F. figurable . See Figure .] Capable of being brought to a fixed form or shape.

Lead is figurable , but water is not. Johnson.

Figural <Xpage=558>

Fig"ur*al (?) , a. [From Figure .] 1. Represented by figure or delineation; consisting of figures; as, figural ornaments .

Sir T. Browne.

2. (Mus.) Figurate. See Figurate .

Figural numbers . See Figurate numbers , under Figurate .

Figurant <Xpage=558>

Fig"u*rant` (? &or; ?) , n. masc. [F., prop. p.pr. of figurer figure, represent, make a figure.] One who dances at the opera, not singly, but in groups or figures; an accessory character on the stage, who figures in its scenes, but has nothing to say; hence, one who figures in any scene, without taking a prominent part.

Figurante <Xpage=558>

Fig"u*rante` (? &or; ?) , n. fem. [F.] A female figurant; esp., a ballet girl.

Figurate <Xpage=558>

Fig"ur*ate (?) , a. [L. figuratus , p.p. of figurare . See Figure .] 1. Of a definite form or figure.

Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are not. Bacon.

2. Figurative; metaphorical. [Obs.]

Bale.

3. (Mus.) Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant .