Chapter 3

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 (?), 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.

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

Fair (f‚r), a. [Compar. Fairer (?); superl. Fairest.] [OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. fÊger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. f¸gen, 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; flowing; -- 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; so-so; 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. (Zoˆl.) (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, 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, 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, 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, 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` (?), a. Having fair or light-colored hair.

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

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

Numerous as shadows haunting fairily The brain.

Keats.

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.

Fair"ish, a. Tolerably fair. [Colloq.] W. D. Howells.

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

Fair"ly, adv. 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. [Obs.] Milton.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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` (?) n. State of prosperity. [Obs.]

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

Milton.

Fair"y (?), n.; pl. Fairies (#). [OE. fairie, faierie, enchantment, fairy folk, fairy, OF. faerie enchantment, F. fÈer, fr. LL. Fata one of the goddesses of fate. See Fate, and cf. Fay a fairy.] [Written also faÎry.] 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.

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

2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money. Dryden.

Fairy bird (Zoˆl.), the Euoropean little tern (Sterna minuta); -- called also sea swallow, and hooded tern. -- Fairy bluebird. (Zoˆl.) See under Bluebird. -- Fairy martin (Zoˆl.), 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 (Zoˆl.), 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.

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

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

Faith (fth), n. [OE. feith, fayth, fay, OF. feid, feit, fei, F. foi, fr. L. fides; akin to fidere to trust, Gr. pei`qein 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- fÈ. -- 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 (?), interj. By my faith; in truth; verily.

Faithed (?), a. Having faith or a faith; honest; sincere. [Obs.] "Make thy words faithed." Shak.

Faith"ful (?), a. 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, adv. - Faith"ful*ness, n.

Faith"less, a. 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, adv.Faith"less*ness, n.

Fai"tour (?), n. [OF. faitor a doer, L. factor. See Factor.] A doer or actor; particularly, an evil doer; a scoundrel. [Obs.]

Lo! faitour, there thy meed unto thee take.

Spenser.

Fake (?), n. [Cf. Scot. faik fold, stratum of stone, AS. fÊc space, interval, G. fach compartment, partition, row, and E. fay to fit.] (Naut.) One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies in a coil; a single turn or coil.

Fake, v. t. (Naut.) 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, v. t. [Cf. 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, n. A trick; a swindle. [Slang]

Fa"kir (?), n. [Ar. faqr poor.] An Oriental religious ascetic or begging monk. [Written also faquir anf fakeer.]

||Fa"la*na"ka (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoˆl.) A viverrine mammal of ||Madagascar (Eupleres Goudotii), allied to the civet; -- called also ||Falanouc.

Fal*cade" (fl*kd"), n. [F., ultimately fr. L. 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.

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{ Fal"cate (?), Fal"ca*ted (?), } a. [L. falcatus, fr. 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.

Fal*ca"tion (?), n. The state of being falcate; a bend in the form of a sickle. Sir T. Browne.

Fal"cer (?), n. [From L. falx, falcis, a sickle.] (Zoˆl.) One of the mandibles of a spider.

Fal"chion (?), n. [OE. fauchon, OF. fauchon, LL. f‰lcio, fr. L. falx, falcis, a sickle, cf. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?; a ship's rib, &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?; bandy-legged; perh, akin to E. falcon; cf. It. falcione. Cf. 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.

Fal*cid"i*an (?), a. [L. 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.

Fal"ci*form (?), a. [L. falx, falcis, a sickle + -form: cf. F. falciforme.] Having the shape of a scithe or sickle; resembling a reaping hook; as, the falciform ligatment of the liver.

Fal"con (?), n. [OE. faucon, faucoun, OF. faucon, falcon, &?;. faucon, fr. LL. falco, perh. from L. falx, falcis, a sickle or scythe, and named from its curving talons. Cf. Falchion.] 1. (Zoˆl.) (a) One of a family (FalconidÊ) 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. (Zoˆl.) See under Chanting.

Fal"con*er (?), n. [OE. fauconer, OF. falconier, fauconier, F. 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.

Fal"co*net (?), n. [Dim. of falcon: cf. F. fauconneau, LL. falconeta, properly, a young falcon.] 1. One of the smaller cannon used in the 15th century and later.

2. (Zoˆl.) (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.

Fal"con*gen`til (?), n. [F. faucon- gentil. See Falcon, and Genteel.] (Zoˆl.) The female or young of the goshawk (Astur palumbarius).

Fal"co*nine (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Like a falcon or hawk; belonging to the FalconidÊ

Fal"con*ry (?), n. [Cf. F. 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.

||Fal"cu*la (?), n. [L., a small sickle, a billhook.] (Zoˆl.) A curved ||and sharp- pointed claw.

Fal"cu*late (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Curved and sharppointed, like a falcula, or claw of a falcon.

Fald"age (?), n. [LL. faldagium, fr. AS. fald, E. fold. Cf. Foldage.] (O. Eng. Law) A privilege of setting up, and moving about, folds for sheep, in any fields within manors, in order to manure them; -- often reserved to himself by the lord of the manor. Spelman.

Fald"fee` (?), n. [AS. fald (E. fold) + E. fee. See Faldage.] (O. Eng. Law) A fee or rent paid by a tenant for the privilege of faldage on his own ground. Blount.

Fald"ing, n. A frieze or rough- napped cloth. [Obs.]

Fal"dis*to*ry (?), n. [LL. faldistorium, faldestorium, from OHG. faldstuol; faldan, faltan, to fold (G. falten) + stuol stool. So called because it could be folded or laid together. See Fold, and Stool, and cf. Faldstool, Fauteuil.] The throne or seat of a bishop within the chancel. [Obs.]

Fald"stool` (?), n. [See Faldistory.] A folding stool, or portable seat, made to fold up in the manner of a camo stool. It was formerly placed in the choir for a bishop, when he offciated in any but his own cathedral church. Fairholt.

In the modern practice of the Church of England, the term faldstool is given to the reading desk from which the litany is read. This esage is a relic of the ancient use of a lectern folding like a camp stool.

Fa*ler"ni*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Mount Falernus, in Italy; as, Falernianwine.

Falk (fk), n. (Zoˆl.) The razorbill. [Written also falc, and faik.] [Prov. Eng.]

Fall (fl), v. i. [imp. Fell (fl); p. p. Fallen (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Falling.] [AS. feallan; akin to D. vallen, OS. & OHG. fallan, G. fallen, Icel. Falla, Sw. falla, Dan. falde, Lith. pulti, L. fallere to deceive, Gr. sfa`llein to cause to fall, Skr. sphal, sphul, to tremble. Cf. Fail, Fell, v. t., to cause to fall.] 1. To Descend, either suddenly or gradually; particularly, to descend by the force of gravity; to drop; to sink; as, the apple falls; the tide falls; the mercury falls in the barometer.

I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Luke x. 18.

2. To cease to be erect; to take suddenly a recumbent posture; to become prostrate; to drop; as, a child totters and falls; a tree falls; a worshiper falls on his knees.

I fell at his feet to worship him.

Rev. xix. 10.

3. To find a final outlet; to discharge its waters; to empty; -- with into; as, the river Rhone falls into the Mediterranean.

4. To become prostrate and dead; to die; especially, to die by violence, as in battle.

A thousand shall fall at thy side.

Ps. xci. 7.

He rushed into the field, and, foremost fighting, fell.

Byron.

5. To cease to be active or strong; to die away; to lose strength; to subside; to become less intense; as, the wind falls.

6. To issue forth into life; to be brought forth; -- said of the young of certain animals. Shak.

7. To decline in power, glory, wealth, or importance; to become insignificant; to lose rank or position; to decline in weight, value, price etc.; to become less; as, the price falls; stocks fell two points.

I am a poor fallen man, unworthy now To be thy lord and master.

Shak.

The greatness of these Irish lords suddenly fell and vanished.

Sir J. Davies.

8. To be overthrown or captured; to be destroyed.

Heaven and earth will witness, If Rome must fall, that we are innocent.

Addison.

9. To descend in character or reputation; to become degraded; to sink into vice, error, or sin; to depart from the faith; to apostatize; to sin.

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Heb. iv. 11.

10. To become insnared or embarrassed; to be entrapped; to be worse off than before; as, to fall into error; to fall into difficulties.

11. To assume a look of shame or disappointment; to become or appear dejected; -- said of the countenance.

Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Gen. iv. 5.

I have observed of late thy looks are fallen.

Addison.

12. To sink; to languish; to become feeble or faint; as, our spirits rise and fall with our fortunes.

13. To pass somewhat suddenly, and passively, into a new state of body or mind; to become; as, to fall asleep; to fall into a passion; to fall in love; to fall into temptation.

14. To happen; to to come to pass; to light; to befall; to issue; to terminate.

The Romans fell on this model by chance.

Swift.

Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall.

Ruth. iii. 18.

They do not make laws, they fall into customs.

H. Spencer.

15. To come; to occur; to arrive.

The vernal equinox, which at the Nicene Council fell on the 21st of March, falls now [1694] about ten days sooner.

Holder.

16. To begin with haste, ardor, or vehemence; to rush or hurry; as, they fell to blows.

They now no longer doubted, but fell to work heart and soul.

Jowett (Thucyd. ).

17. To pass or be transferred by chance, lot, distribution, inheritance, or otherwise; as, the estate fell to his brother; the kingdom fell into the hands of his rivals.

18. To belong or appertain.

If to her share some female errors fall, Look on her face, and you'll forget them all.

Pope.

19. To be dropped or uttered carelessly; as, an unguarded expression fell from his lips; not a murmur fell from him.