| fair | 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. Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; fowing; said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines. 7. Characterised 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." 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; as, a fair specimen. "The news is very fair and good, my lord." (Shak) Fair ball. Synonym: Candid, open, frank, ingenuous, clear, honest, equitable, impartial, reasonable. See Candid. Origin: OE. Fair, fayer, fager, AS. Faeger; akin to OS. & OHG. Fagar, Isel. Fagr, Sw. Fager, Dan. Faver, Goth. Fagrs fit, also to E. Fay, G. Fugen, to fit. Fegen to sweep, cleanse, and prob. Also to E. Fang, peace, pact, Cf. Fang, Fain, Fay to fit. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| fair-weather | 1. Made or done in pleasant weather, or in circumstances involving but little exposure or sacrifice; as, a fair-weather voyage. 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fairly | 1. In a fairmanner; 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 traade. 3. Honestly; properly. "Such means of comfort or even luxury, as lay fairly within their grasp." (Hawthorne) 4. Softly; quietly; gently. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fairness | 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fairy | 1. Enchantment; illusion. "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. "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. 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) Origin: OE. Fairie, faierie, enchantment, fairy folk, fairy, OF. Faerie enchantment, F. Feer, fr. LL. Fata one of the goddesses of fate. See Fate, and cf. Fay a fairy Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |