fair

fair
{{11}}fair (adj.) O.E. fæger "beautiful, lovely, pleasant," from P.Gmc. *fagraz (Cf. O.S.fagar, O.N. fagr, O.H.G. fagar "beautiful," Goth. fagrs "fit"), perhaps from PIE *pek- "to make pretty" (Cf. Lith. puoЕЎiu "I decorate"). The meaning in reference to weather (c.1200) preserves the original sense (opposed to FOUL (Cf. foul)). Sense of "light-complexioned" (1550s) reflects tastes in beauty; sense of "free from bias" (mid-14c.) evolved from another early meaning, "morally pure, unblemished" (late 12c.). The sporting senses (fair ball, fair catch etc.) began in 1856. Fair play is from 1590s; fair and square is from c.1600. Fair-haired in the figurative sense of "darling, favorite" is from 1909. First record of fair-weather friends is from 1736.
{{12}}fair (n.) early 14c., from Anglo-Fr. feyre (late 13c.), from O.Fr. feire, from V.L. *feria "holiday, market fair," from L. feriae "religious festivals, holidays," related to festus "solemn, festive, joyous" (see FEAST (Cf. feast)).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • fair — adj 1: characterized by honesty and justice: free from self interest, deception, injustice, or favoritism a fair and impartial tribunal 2: reasonable as a basis for exchange a fair wage a fair valuation 3: consistent with merit or importance …   Law dictionary

  • Fair — (f[^a]r), a. [Compar. {Fairer}; superl. {Fairest}.] [OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. f[ae]ger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. f[ u]gen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and prob. also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fair — fair1 [fer] adj. [ME < OE fæger, akin to FAIN, Goth fagrs, apt, fit < IE base * pek , to be content, make (something) pretty > Lith púošiu, to ornament] 1. attractive; beautiful; lovely 2. unblemished; clean [a fair name] 3. [< notion …   English World dictionary

  • fair — Ⅰ. fair [1] ► ADJECTIVE 1) just or appropriate in the circumstances. 2) treating people equally. 3) considerable in size or amount. 4) moderately good. 5) (of hair or complexion) light; blonde. 6) (of weather) f …   English terms dictionary

  • fair do's — /dooz/ (pl of ↑do; informal) An expression appealing for, or agreeing to, fair play, strict honesty, etc • • • Main Entry: ↑fair * * * fair do’s british spoken phrase used for drawing attention to something good about someone although you are… …   Useful english dictionary

  • fair — adj 1 comely, lovely, *beautiful, pretty, bonny, handsome, beauteous, pulchritudinous, good looking Analogous words: delicate, dainty, exquisite (see CHOICE): charming, attractive, enchanting (see under ATTRACT): pure, *chaste Antonyms: foul: ill …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Fair — steht für: einen Ausdruck im Sinne von „gerecht“ in den Bereichen Sport, Recht und Informatik: siehe Fairness als Abkürzung FAIR „Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research“, siehe GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung Fairness Accuracy in… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fair — Fair, n. [OE. feire, OF. feire, F. foire, fr. L. fariae, pl., days of rest, holidays, festivals, akin to festus festal. See {Feast}.] 1. A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place with their merchandise at a stated or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fair Em — Fair Em, the Miller s Daughter of Manchester, is an Elizabethan era stage play, a comedy written c. 1590. It was bound together with Mucedorus and The Merry Devil of Edmonton in a volume labelled Shakespeare. Vol. I in the library of Charles II… …   Wikipedia

  • fair — fair, fairly adverbs. Fair is used in its ordinary meaning ‘in a fair manner’ in several fixed expressions, e.g. to bid fair, to play fair, fair between the eyes. In dialect use and in some non British varieties it is used to mean ‘completely,… …   Modern English usage

  • fair — [adj1] impartial, unprejudiced aboveboard, benevolent, blameless, candid, civil, clean, courteous, decent, disinterested, dispassionate, equal, equitable, even handed, frank, generous, good, honest, honorable, impartial, just, lawful, legitimate …   New thesaurus

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