Fescue grass (Bot.), a genus of grasses (Festuca) containing several
species of importance in agriculture. Festuca ovina is sheep's fescue;
F. elatior is meadow fescue.
Fes"cue (fs"k), v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Fescued (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Fescuing.] To use a fescue, or teach with a fescue. Milton.
Fes"els (?), n. pl. [Written also fasels.] See Phasel. [Obs.] May
(Georgics).
{ Fess, Fesse } (?), n. [OF. fesse, faisse, F. fasce, fr. L. fascia
band. See Fascia.] (Her.) A band drawn horizontally across the center
of an escutcheon, and containing in breadth the third part of it; one
of the nine honorable ordinaries.
Fess point (Her.), the exact center of the escutcheon. See Escutcheon.
Fes"si*tude (?), n. [L. fessus wearied, fatigued.] Weariness. [Obs.]
Bailey.
Fess"wise (?), adv. In the manner of fess.
Fest (?), n. [See Fist.] The fist. [Obs.] Chaucer.
{ Fest, Fes"te (?), n. } A feast. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Fes"tal (?), a. [L. festum holiday, feast. See feast.] Of or pertaining
to a holiday or a feast; joyous; festive.
You bless with choicer wine the festal day.
Francis.
Fes"tal*ly, adv. Joyously; festively; mirthfully.
Fes"ten*nine (?), n. A fescennine.
Fes"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Festered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Festering.] [OE. festern, fr. fester, n.; or fr. OF. festrir, fr.
festre, n. See Fester, n.] 1. To generate pus; to become imflamed and
suppurate; as, a sore or a wound festers.
Wounds immedicable Rankle, and fester, and gangrene.
Milton.
Unkindness may give a wound that shall bleed and smart, but it is
treachery that makes it fester.
South.
Hatred . . . festered in the hearts of the children of the soil.
Macaulay.
2. To be inflamed; to grow virulent, or malignant; to grow in
intensity; to rankle.
Fes`ter, v. t. To cause to fester or rankle.
For which I burnt in inward, swelt'ring hate, And festered ranking
malice in my breast.
Marston.
Fes"ter, n. [OF. festre, L. fistula a sort of ulcer. Cf. Fistula.] 1. A
small sore which becomes inflamed and discharges corrupt matter; a
pustule.