FABIAN, f[=a]'bi-an, _adj._ delaying, avoiding battle, cautious, practising
the policy of delay.--_n._ a member of a small group of Socialists in
England, called by this name. [From Q. _Fabius_ Maximus, surnamed Cunctator
('delayer'), from the masterly tactics with which he wore out the strength
of Hannibal, whom he dared not meet in battle.]
FABLE, f[=a]'bl, _n._ a narrative in which things irrational, and sometimes
inanimate, are, for the purpose of moral instruction, feigned to act and
speak with human interests and passions: any tale in literary form, not
necessarily probable in its incidents, intended to instruct or amuse: the
plot or series of events in an epic or dramatic poem: a fiction or myth: a
ridiculous story, as in 'old wives' fables,' a falsehood: subject of common
talk.--_v.i._ to tell fictitious tales: (_obs._) to tell
falsehoods.--_v.t._ to feign: to invent.--_p.adj._ F[=A]'BLED,
mythical.--_n._ F[=A]'BLER, a writer or narrator of fictions.--_adj._
FAB'ULAR.--_v.i._ FAB'UL[=I]SE, to write fables, or to speak in
fables.--_ns._ FAB'ULIST, one who invents fables; FABULOS'ITY,
FAB'ULOUSNESS.--_adj._ FAB'ULOUS, feigned, false: related in fable:
immense, amazing.--_adv._ FAB'ULOUSLY. [Fr. _fable_--L. _fabula_,
_f[=a]ri_, to speak.]
FABLIAU, fab-li-[=o]', _n._ one of a group of over a hundred metrical
tales, usually satirical in quality, produced in France from about the
middle of the 12th to the end of the 13th century:--_pl._ FAB'LIAUX. [Fr.]
FABRIC, fab'rik, or f[=a]'brik, _n._ workmanship: texture: anything framed
by art and labour: building, esp. the construction and maintenance of a
church, &c.: manufactured cloth: any system of connected parts.--_v.t._
(_Milt._) to construct.--_n._ FAB'RICANT, a manufacturer. [Fr.
_fabrique_--L. _fabrica_--_faber_, a worker in hard materials.]
FABRICATE, fab'ri-k[=a]t, _v.t._ to put together by art and labour: to
manufacture: to produce: to devise falsely.--_n._ FABRIC[=A]'TION,
construction: manufacture: that which is fabricated or invented: a story: a
falsehood.--_adj._ FAB'RICATIVE.--_n._ FAB'RICATOR. [L. _fabric[=a]ri_,
_-[=a]tus_--_fabrica_, fabric.]
FAÇADE, fa-s[=a]d', _n._ the exterior front or face of a building.
[Fr.,--_face_, after It. _facciata_, the front of a building--_faccia_, the
face.]
FACE, f[=a]s, _n._ the front part of the head, including forehead, eyes,
nose, mouth, cheeks, and chin: the outside make or appearance: front or
surface of anything: the edge of a cutting-tool, &c.: the part of a
coal-seam actually being mined: cast of features, any special appearance or
expression of the countenance: look, configuration: boldness, effrontery;
presence: (_B._) anger or favour.--_v.t._ to meet in the face or in front:
to stand opposite to: to resist: to put an additional face or surface on;
to cover in front.--_v.i._ to turn the face, as in military tactics--'right
face,' &c.--_ns._ FACE'-ACHE, neuralgia in the nerves of the face;
FACE'-CARD, a playing-card bearing a face (king, queen, or knave);
FACE'-CLOTH, a cloth laid over the face of a corpse.--_adj._ FACED, having
the outer surface dressed, with the front, as of a dress, covered
ornamentally with another material.--_n._ FACE'-GUARD, a kind of mask to
guard or protect the face.--_adj._ FACE'LESS, without a face.--_ns._
FAC'ER, one who puts on a false show: a bold-faced person: (_slang_) a
severe blow on the face, anything that staggers one; FAC'ING, a covering in
front for ornament or protection.--FACE DOWN, to abash by stern looks; FACE
OUT, to carry off by bold looks; FACE THE MUSIC (_U.S. slang_), to accept
the situation at its worst; FACE-TO-FACE, in front of, in actual presence
of.--ACCEPT ONE'S FACE, to show him favour or grant his request; FLY IN THE
FACE OF, to set one's self directly against; HAVE TWO FACES, or BE
TWO-FACED, to be disingenuous; ON THE FACE OF IT, on its own showing:
palpably plain; PULL A LONG FACE, to look dismal and unhappy; PUT A GOOD
FACE ON, to assume a bold or contented bearing as regards; RIGHT FACE! LEFT
FACE! RIGHT ABOUT FACE! words of command, on which the soldiers
individually turn to the side specified; RUN ONE'S FACE (_U.S. slang_), to
obtain things on credit by sheer impudence; SET ONE'S FACE AGAINST, to
oppose strenuously; SHOW ONE'S FACE, to appear, to come in view; SHUT THE
DOOR IN HIS FACE, to shut the door before him, refusing him admittance; TO
HIS FACE, in his presence, openly. [Fr. _face_--L. ''facies'', form, face;
perh. from _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
FACET, fas'et, _n._ a small surface, as of a crystal.--_v.t._ to cut a
facet upon, or cover with facets.--_adj._ FAC'ETED, having or formed into
facets. [Fr. _facette_, dim. of _face_.]
FACETIOUS, fa-s[=e]'shus, _adj._ witty, humorous, jocose: bawdy--(_obs._ or
_arch._) FACETE'.--_n.pl._ FACETIÆ (fa-s[=e]'shi-[=e]), witty or humorous
sayings or writings: a bookseller's term for improper books--of all degrees
of indecency.--_adv._ FAC[=E]'TIOUSLY.--_n._ FAC[=E]'TIOUSNESS. [Fr., from
L. _fac[=e]tia_--_facetus_, merry, witty.]
FACIAL, f[=a]'shal, _adj._ of or relating to the face.--_adv._
F[=A]'CIALLY.--FACIAL ANGLE, in craniometry, the angle formed by lines
drawn to show to what extent the jaws are protruding and the forehead
receding.
FACIES, f[=a]'shi-[=e]z, _n._ general aspect of anything: the face,
features. [L.]
FACILE, fas'il, _adj._ easily persuaded: affable: yielding: easy of access
or accomplishment: courteous: easy.--_n._ FAC'ILENESS.--_v.t._
FACIL'IT[=A]TE, to make easy: to lessen difficulty.--_ns._
FACILIT[=A]'TION; FACIL'ITY, quality of being facile; dexterity: easiness
to be persuaded: pliancy: easiness of access: affability: (_Scots law_) a
condition of mental weakness short of idiocy, but such as makes a person
easily persuaded to do deeds to his own prejudice:--_pl._ FACIL'ITIES,
means that render anything easily done. [Fr.,--L. _facilis_,
easy--_fac[)e]re_, to do.]
FACINOROUS, fa-sin'o-rus, _adj._ atrociously wicked.--_n._ FACIN'OROUSNESS.
[L. _facinorosus_--_facinus_, a crime--_fac[)e]re_, to do.]
FAC-SIMILE, fak-sim'i-l[=e], _n._ an exact copy, as of handwriting, a coin,
&c.--_adj._ exactly corresponding.--_v.t._ to make a fac-simile of, to
reproduce.--_n._ FAC-SIM'ILIST. [L. _fac_, imper. of _fac[)e]re_, to make,
_simile_, neut. of _similis_, like.]
FACT, fakt, _n._ a deed or anything done: anything that comes to pass:
reality, or a real state of things, as distinguished from a mere statement
or belief, a datum of experience: truth: the assertion of a thing done: an
evil deed, a sense now surviving only in 'to confess the fact,' 'after' or
'before the fact.'--_adj._ FACT'UAL, pertaining to facts: actual.--_ns._
FACTUAL'ITY; FACT'UM, a thing done, a deed.--AS A MATTER OF FACT, in
reality.--THE FACT OF THE MATTER, the plain truth about the subject in
question. [L. _factum_--_fac[)e]re_, to make.]
FACTION, fak'shun, _n._ a company of persons associated or acting together,
mostly used in a bad sense: a contentious party in a state or society:
dissension.--_adj._ FAC'TIONAL.--_ns._ FAC'TIONARY, a member of a faction;
FAC'TIONIST.--_adj._ FAC'TIOUS, turbulent: disloyal.--_adv._
FAC'TIOUSLY.--_n._ FAC'TIOUSNESS. [L. _factionem_--_fac[)e]re_, to do.]
FACTITIOUS, fak-tish'us, _adj._ made by art, in opposition to what is
natural or spontaneous: conventional.--_adv._ FACTI'TIOUSLY.--_n._
FACTI'TIOUSNESS.--_adjs._ FAC'TITIVE, causative; FAC'TIVE (_obs._), making.
[L. _factitius_--_fac[)e]re_, to make.]
FACTOR, fak'tor, _n._ a doer or transactor of business for another: one who
buys and sells goods for others, on commission: (_Scot._) an agent managing
heritable estates for another: (_math._) one of two or more parts, which,
when multiplied together, result in a given number--e.g. 6 and 4 are
factors of 24: an element in the composition of anything, or in bringing
about a certain result.--_ns._ FAC'TORAGE, the fees or commission of a
factor.--_adj._ FACT[=O]'RIAL, of or pertaining to a factor.--_v.t._
FAC'TORISE (_U.S._), to warn not to pay or give up goods: to attach the
effects of a debtor in the hands of a third person.--_ns._ FAC'TORSHIP;
FAC'TORY, a manufactory: a trading settlement in a distant
country.--JUDICIAL FACTOR, a person appointed by the Court to manage the
estate of a person under some incapacity. [L.,--_fac[)e]re_.]
FACTOTUM, fak-t[=o]'tum, _n._ a person employed to do all kinds of work for
another. [Low L.,--L. _fac_, imper. of _fac[)e]re_, to do, _totum_, all.]
FACTURE, fak't[=u]r, _n._ the act or the result of making, workmanship.
FACULA, fak'[=u]-la, _n._ a spot brighter than the rest of the surface,
sometimes seen on the sun's disc:--_pl._ FAC'ULÆ. [L., 'a torch,' dim. of
_fax_, torch.]
FACULTY, fak'ul-ti, _n._ facility or power to act: any particular ability
or aptitude: an original power of the mind: any physical capability or
function: personal quality or endowment: right, authority, or privilege to
act: license: a department of learning at a university, or the professors
constituting it: the members of a profession: executive ability.--_adj._
FAC'ULT[=A]TIVE, optional: of or pertaining to a faculty.--COURT OF
FACULTIES, a court established by Henry VIII., whereby authority is given
to the Archbishop of Canterbury to grant dispensations and faculties.
[Fr.,--L. _facultatem_--_facilis_, easy.]
FACUNDITY, fa-kun'di-ti, _n._ (_obs._) eloquence.
FAD, fad, _n._ a weak or transient hobby, crotchet, or craze: any
unimportant belief or practice intemperately urged.--_adjs._ FAD'DISH,
given to fads--also FAD'DY.--_ns._ FAD'DISNNESS; FAD'DISM; FAD'DIST, one
who is a slave to some fad. [Ety. dub.]