{ fe"tich*ism, Fe"tish*ism (? or ?); 277), n. }[Cf. F. fÈtichisme.]
[Written also feticism.] 1. The doctrine or practice of belief in
fetiches.
2. Excessive devotion to one object or one idea; abject superstition;
blind adoration.
The real and absolute worship of fire falls into two great
divisions, the first belonging rather to fetichism, the second to
polytheism proper.
Tylor.
{ Fe"tich*ist, Fe"tish*ist, n. } A believer in fetiches.
He was by nature a fetichist.
H. Holbeach.
{ Fe`tich*is"tic (?), Fe`tish*is"tic, a.} Pertaining to, or involving,
fetichism.
A man of the fifteenth century, inheriting its strange web of
belief and unbelief, of epicurean levity and fetichistic dread.
G. Eliot.
Fe"ti*cide (? or ?), n. [Written also fúticide.] [Fetus + L. caedere to
kill.] (Med. & Law) The act of killing the fetus in the womb; the
offense of procuring an abortion.
Fe"ti*cism (?), n. See Fetichism.
Fet"id (? or ?; 277), a. [L. fetidus, foetidus, fr. fetere, foetere, to
have an ill smell, to stink: cf. F. fÈtide.] Having an offensive smell;
stinking.
Most putrefactions . . . smell either fetid or moldy.
Bacon.
Fet*id"i*ty (? or ?), n. Fetidness.
Fet"id*ness, n. The quality or state of being fetid.
Fe*tif"er*ous (?), a. [Fetus + -ferous.] Producing young, as animals.
<! p. 555 !>
Fe"tis (?), a. [OF. fetis, faitis. Cf. Factitious.] Neat; pretty; well
made; graceful. [Obs.]
Full fetis was her cloak, as I was ware.
Chaucer.
Fe"tise*ly (?), adv. Neatly; gracefully; properly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Fe"tish (?), n., Fe"tish*ism (&?; or &?;; 277), n., Fe`tish*is"tic
(&?;), a. See Fetich, n., Fetichism, n., Fetichistic, a.
Fet"lock (?), n. [OE. fetlak, fitlock, cf. Icel. fet pace, step, fit
webbed foot of water birds, akin to E. foot. √77. See Foot.] The
cushionlike projection, bearing a tuft of long hair, on the back side
of the leg above the hoof of the horse and similar animals. Also, the
joint of the limb at this point (between the great pastern bone and the
metacarpus), or the tuft of hair.
Their wounded steeds Fret fetlock deep in gore.
Shak.
Fe"tor (?), n. [L. fetor, foetor. See Fetid.] A strong, offensive
smell; stench; fetidness. Arbuthnot.
Fet"te (? or ?), v. t. [imp. Fette, p. p. Fet.] [See Fet, v. t.] To
fetch. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Fet"ter (ft"tr), n. [AS. fetor, feter; akin to OS. feters, pl., OD.
veter, OHG. fezzera, Icel. fjˆturr, L. pedica, Gr. pe`dh, and to E.
foot. √ 77. See Foot.] [Chiefly used in the plural, fetters.] 1.
A chain or shackle for the feet; a chain by which an animal is confined
by the foot, either made fast or disabled from free and rapid motion; a
bond; a shackle.
[They] bound him with fetters of brass.
Judg. xvi. 21.