FAHRENHEIT, fä'ren-h[=i]t, or far'en-[=i]t, _n._ the name applied to a
thermometer, the freezing-point of which is marked at 32, and the
boiling-point at 212 degrees (see THERMOMETER for the relations between the
two scales). [Named from the inventor, Gabriel D. _Fahrenheit_
(1686-1736).]
FAIENCE, f[=a]'yäns, _n._ a fine kind of pottery, glazed and painted. [Fr.;
prob. from _Faenza_ in Italy.]
FAIK, f[=a]k, _v.i._ and _v.t._ (_Scot._) to abate: to excuse.
FAIL, f[=a]l, _n._ a turf, sod.--_n._ FAIL'-DIKE (_Scot._), a turf-wall.
[Perh. from Gael. _fàl_, a sod.]
FAIL, f[=a]l, _v.i._ to fall short or be wanting (with _in_): to fall away:
to decay: to die: to prove deficient under trial, examination, pressure,
&c.: to miss: to be disappointed or baffled: to be unable to pay one's
debts.--_v.t._ to be wanting to: not to be sufficient for: to leave undone,
omit: to disappoint or desert any one:--_pr.p._ fail'ing; _pa.p._
failed.--_n._ (_Shak._) failure.--_p.adj._ FAILED, decayed, worn out:
bankrupt.--_n._ FAIL'ING, a fault, weakness: a foible.--_prep._ in default
of.--_n._ FAIL'URE, a falling short, or cessation: omission: decay:
bankruptcy.--FAIL OF, to come short of accomplishing any purpose; WITHOUT
FAIL, infallibly. [O. Fr. _faillir_--L. _fall[)e]re_, to deceive; cf. Dut.
_feilen_, Ger. _fehlen_, Ice. _feila_.]
FAIN, f[=a]n, _adj._ glad or joyful: inclined (with _to_): content to
accept, for want of better: compelled: (_Spens._) wont.--_v.i._ (_Spens._)
to delight.--_adv._ gladly.--_adv._ FAIN'LY, gladly.--_n._ FAIN'NESS,
eagerness. [A.S. _fægen_, joyful: cf. Ice. _feginn_, glad.]
FAIN, f[=a]n, _v.i._ (_Spens._). Same as FEIGN.
FAINÉANT, f[=a]-nyang', _adj._ and _n._ do-nothing, applied esp. to the
later Merovingian kings of France, mere puppets, under whom the mayors of
the Palace really governed the country.--_ns._ FAI'NEANCE (_Kingsley_),
FAI'NEANCY, FAINEANT'ISE. [Fr., _faire_, to do, _néant_, nothing.]
FAINT, f[=a]nt, _adj._ wanting in strength: fading: lacking distinctness:
not bright or forcible: weak in spirit: lacking courage: depressed: done in
a feeble way.--_v.i._ to become feeble or weak: to lose strength, colour,
&c.: to swoon: to fade or decay: to vanish: to lose courage or spirit: to
become depressed.--_v.t._ (_rare_) to render faint.--_n._ a
swoon.--_p.adj._ FAINT'ED (_Milt._), exhausted.--_adjs._ FAINT'-HEART,
FAINT'-HEART'ED, cowardly: timorous.--_adv._ FAINT'-HEART'EDLY.--_ns._
FAINT'-HEART'EDNESS; FAINT'ING.--_adj._ FAINT'ISH, slightly faint.--_n._
FAINT'ISHNESS.--_adv._ FAINT'LY.--_n._ FAINT'NESS, want of strength:
feebleness of colour, light, &c.: dejection.--_adj._ FAINT'Y, faintish. [O.
Fr. _feint_ (Fr. _feindre_), feigned--L. _fing[)e]re_, to feign.]
FAIR, f[=a]r, _adj._ bright: clear: free from blemish: pure: pleasing to
the eye: beautiful: free from a dark hue: of a light shade: free from
clouds or rain: favourable: unobstructed: open: prosperous: frank:
impartial: just: pleasing: plausible: hopeful: moderate: pretty good.--_n._
that which is fair: (_arch._) a woman.--_v.t._ to make fair.--_v.i._ to
clear up, as the weather from rain.--_adv._ kindly, honestly, clearly:
straight: (_Shak._) favourably.--_adjs._ FAIR'-AND-SQUARE, honest--also
used adverbially; FAIR'-BOD'ING (_Shak._), auspicious.--_n._ FAIR'-COP'Y,
the state of a document copied after final correction.--_adjs._
FAIR'-FACED, with a light complexion: beautiful: specious; FAIR'-HAIRED,
having fair or light-coloured hair; FAIR'-HAND, having a fair appearance;
FAIR'ISH, somewhat fair: pretty well, pretty drunk.--_adv._
FAIR'LY.--_adj._ FAIR'-MIND'ED, judging fairly.--_ns._ FAIR'NESS;
FAIR'-PLAY, honest dealing: justice.--_adjs._ FAIR'-SEEM'ING, appearing
fair; FAIR'-SPOK'EN, bland and civil in language and address.--_ns._
FAIR'-TRADE, free-trade: a euphemism for smuggling: a mild form of the
protective system, in which the basis of economic policy is supposed to be
reciprocity or free-trade only with such nations as grant similar
privileges--also used adverbially; FAIR'-WAY, the part of a river,
roadstead, &c. by which vessels enter or leave.--_adj._ FAIR'-WEATH'ER,
suitable only for fair weather or favourable circumstances.--BE IN A FAIR
WAY TO, to be likely to succeed in; KEEP FAIR WITH, to keep on amiable
terms with; STAND FAIR WITH, to be in the good graces of.--THE FAIR, THE
FAIR SEX, the female sex. [A.S. _fæger_.]
FAIR, f[=a]r, _n._ a great periodical market for one kind of merchandise,
or for the general sales and purchases of a district: a collection of
miscellaneous goods for sale on behoof of charity at a bazaar, &c.--_n._
FAIR'ING, a present given at a fair, any complimentary gift.--A DAY AFTER
THE FAIR, too late; GET ONE'S FAIRING (_Scot._), to get one's deserts. [O.
Fr. _feire_--L. _feria_, holiday.]
FAIRY, f[=a]r'i, _n._ an imaginary being, generally of diminutive and
graceful human form, capable of kindly or unkindly acts towards man:
fairy-folk collectively: an enchantress, or creature of overpowering
charm.--_adj._ like a fairy, fanciful, whimsical, delicate.--_adv._
FAIR'ILY.--_n.pl._ FAIR'Y-BEADS, the separate joints of the stems of fossil
crinoids found in carboniferous limestone.--_ns._ FAIR'Y-BUTT'ER, a name
applied in northern England to certain gelatinous fungi; FAIR'YDOM;
FAIR'YHOOD, FAIR'YISM; FAIR'YLAND, the country of the fairies.--_adj._
FAIR'Y-LIKE, like or acting like fairies.--_n._ FAIR'Y-MON'EY, money given
by fairies, which quickly changes into withered leaves, &c.: money
found.--_ns.pl._ FAIR'Y-RINGS, -CIR'CLES, spots or circles in pastures,
either barer than the rest of the field, or greener--due to the outwardly
spreading growth of various fungi.--_ns._ FAIR'Y-STONE, a fossil echinite
found abundantly in chalk-pits; FAIR'Y-TALE, a story about fairies: an
incredible tale. [O. Fr. _faerie_, enchantment--_fae_ (mod. _fée_). See
FAY.]
FAITH, f[=a]th, _n._ trust or confidence in any person: belief in the
statement of another: belief in the truth of revealed religion: confidence
and trust in God: the living reception by the heart of the truth as it is
in Christ: that which is believed: any system of religious belief, esp. the
religion one considers true--'the faith;' fidelity to promises: honesty:
word or honour pledged.--_adjs._ FAITHED (_Shak._), credited; FAITH'FUL,
full of faith, believing: firm in adherence to promises, duty, allegiance,
&c.: loyal: conformable to truth: worthy of belief: true.--_adv._
FAITH'FULLY, sincerely, truthfully, exactly.--_ns._ FAITH'FULNESS;
FAITH'-HEAL'ING, a system of belief based on James, v. 14, that sickness
may be treated without any medical advice or appliances, if the prayer of
Christians be accompanied in the sufferer by true faith.--_adj._
FAITH'LESS, without faith or belief: not believing, esp. in God or
Christianity: not adhering to promises, allegiance, or duty:
delusive.--_adv._ FAITH'LESSLY.--_ns._ FAITH'LESSNESS; FAITH'WORTHINESS,
trustworthiness.--_adj._ FAITH'WORTHY, worthy of faith or belief.--BAD
FAITH, treachery.--FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL, Abraham: the caliph.--IN GOOD
FAITH, with sincerity.--THE FAITHFUL, believers. [M. E. _feith_,
_feyth_--O. Fr. _feid_--L. _fides_--_fid[)e]re_, to trust.]
FAITOR, f[=a]'tor, _n._ an impostor: an evil-doer, a scoundrel.--Often
FAI'TOUR. [O. Fr. _faitor_--L. _factor_.]
FAKE, f[=a]k, _v.t._ to fold, coil.--_n._ a coil of rope, &c.
FAKE, f[=a]k, _v.t._ to steal: to make up an article so as to hide its
defects.--_n._ FAKE'MENT, any swindling device. [Prof. Skeat thinks it
merely the Mid. Dut. _facken_, to catch; Mr Bradley suggests the earlier
_feak_, _feague_, Ger. _fegen_, to furbish up.]
FAKIR, fa-k[=e]r', or f[=a]'k[.e]r, _n._ a member of a religious order of
mendicants or penitents in India, &c.--_n._ FAKIR'ISM, religious
mendicancy. [Ar. _faqîr_, a poor man, _fakr_, _faqr_, poverty.]
FA-LA, fä-lä, _n._ an old kind of madrigal.
FALBALA, fal'ba-la, _n._ a trimming for women's petticoats: a furbelow.
[Ety. dub.; cf. _furbelow_.]
FALCADE, fal'k[=a]d', _n._ the motion of a horse when he throws himself on
his haunches in a very quick curvet. [Fr.,--L. _fulcatus_, bent.]
FALCATE, -D, fal'k[=a]t, -ed, _adj._ (_astron._, _bot._) bent like a
sickle, as the crescent moon, and certain leaves.--_ns._ FALC[=A]'TION;
FAL'CULA, a falcate or falciform claw.--_adj._ FAL'CULATE. [L. _falx_, a
sickle.]
FALCHION, fawl'shun, _n._ a short, broad sword, bent somewhat like a
sickle.--_adj._ FAL'CIFORM, sickle-shaped. [O. Fr. _fauchon_, through Low
L., from L. _falx_, a sickle.]
FALCON, fol'kon, or faw'kn, _n._ a bird of prey formerly trained to the
pursuit of game: a kind of cannon.--_ns._ FAL'CONER, one who sports with,
or who breeds and trains, falcons or hawks for taking wild-fowl; FAL'CONET,
a small field-gun in use till the 16th century.--_adj._ FAL'CON-EYED,
keen-eyed.--_ns._ FAL'CON-GEN'TIL, -GEN'TLE, the female and young of the
goshawk.--_adj._ FAL'CONINE.--_n._ FAL'CONRY, the art of training or
hunting with falcons. [O. Fr. _faucon_--Low L. _falc[=o]n-em_--L. _falx_, a
hook or sickle.]
FALDAGE, fal'd[=a]j, _n._ the right, often reserved by the lord of a manor,
of folding his tenant's sheep in his own fields for the sake of the manure:
a fee paid for exemption from the foregoing.
FALDERAL, fäl'der-al, _n._ a meaningless refrain in songs: any kind of
flimsy trifle--also FOL'DEROL and FAL DE ROL.--FALDERAL IT, to sing
unmeaning sounds.