fair en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈfɛː/ (British, Southern, Standard)
- /ˈfiə/ cheer–chair merger
- [ˈfɛː] (British, Southern, Standard)
- /ˈfeː/ (Australia)
- audio
- audio
- /ˈfɛə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈfeə/ without the cheer–chair merger
- [ˈfɛə̯] (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈfɜː(ɹ)/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
- [ˈfɛː] (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈfɜː(ɹ)] Lancashire, fair–fur merger
- /ˈfɛɚ/ (Canada, General-American)
- [ˈfe̝ə] without the cheer–chair merger
- [ˈfiə] cheer–chair merger
- [ˈfɛɹ] ~ [ˈfɛɹ̩] (Canada, General-American)
- [ˈfe(ː)ɾ] (Scotland)
- [ˈfeː] (Australia)
- /ˈfeɾ/ (Scotland)
Etymology
From Middle English fayr, from Old English fæġer (“beautiful”), from Proto-West Germanic *fagr, from Proto-Germanic *fagraz (“appropriate, fitting, nice, suitable”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- (“to attach, join; agreement, settlement”). Cognates Cognate with Old High German and Old Saxon fagar (“beautiful, fair”), Danish fager, favr (“fair, pretty, wonderful”), Faroese and Icelandic fagur (“beautiful, fair”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish fager (“fair, pretty”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌲𐍂𐍃 (fagrs, “fair, proper”), Estonian vapper (“brave, courageous”), Finnish vauras (“substantial, wealthy”); also Latin pāx (“peace; ease, quiet, rest”), Umbrian pase (“peace”), Belarusian пе́кны (pjékny, “beautiful”), Czech pěkný (“nice; pretty”), Polish piekny, piękny (“beautiful; admirable, praiseworthy”), Slovak pekný (“nice; pretty”), Sanskrit पाश॑ (pā́śa, “bond, cord, noose; nature, outer world; border, edge, selvage”). See also peace.
Meanings
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(archaic, literary, qualifier:original sense) Beautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure and fresh quality.
"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father's father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to take atmospheric density tests," replied the fair prisoner, in a low, well-modulated voice.
1912 February–July, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Under the Moons of Mars”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as “Champion and Chief”, in A Princess of Mars, Chicago, Ill.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg & Co., October 1917, →OCLC, page 96:That the ſonnes of God ſaw the daughters of men, that they were faire, and they took them wiues, of all which they choſe.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 6:2, column 1:And yet he was also, though many generations separated them, distant cousin to the shining eoten-main Geard, whom the god Frea Ing had seen from afar and wedded; and to Scatha, the fair daughter of the old thurse Theasa, who had claimed a husband from among the gods as weregild for her father's slaying: often, it was said, the ugliest eotens would sire the fairest maids.
2010, Stephan Grundy, Beowulf (Fiction), iUniverse, →ISBN, page 33:Monday's child is fair of face.
He is so fayre, withoutten les, / he semys full well to sytt on des.
15th c., “[The Creation]”, in Wakefield Mystery Plays; Re-edited in George England, Alfred W. Pollard, editors, The Towneley Plays (Early English Text Society Extra Series; LXXI), London: […] Oxford University Press, 1897, →OCLC, page 5, lines 120–121:There was once a knight who wooed a fair young maid.
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Unblemished (figuratively or literally); clean and pure; innocent.
1665, Robert Hooke, Micrographia, London, Observation 21, “Of Moss, and several other small vegetative Substances,” p. 135, […] I have observ’d, that putting fair Water (whether Rain-water or Pump-water, or May-dew, or Snow-water, it was almost all one) I have often observ’d, I say, that this Water would, with a little standing, tarnish and cover all about the sides of the Glass that lay under water, with a lovely green […]
After scratching out and replacing various words in the manuscript, he scribed a fair copy to send to the publisher.
The Table hauing at the Communion time a faire white linnen cloth vpon it, shall stand in the body of the Church, or in the Chancell, where Morning prayer and Euening prayer be appointed to be said.
1605, “The order for the administration of the Lords Supper, or holy Communion”, in The Booke of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, London: Robert Barker:one's fair name
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Light in color, pale, particularly with regard to skin tone but also referring to blond and red hair.
This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking. In complexion fair, and with blue or gray eyes, he was tall as any Viking, as broad in the shoulder.
1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:the northern people large and fair-complexioned
1677, Matthew Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, page 200:She had fair hair and blue eyes.
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Just.
“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:He must be given a fair trial.
-
Adequate, reasonable, or decent, but not excellent.
My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.
1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter III, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:The words of these songs were either without meaning, or derived from an idiom with which Watt, a very fair linguist, had no acquaintance.
1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:Their performance has been only fair.
The patient was in a fair condition after some treatment.
-
(of a wind) Favorable to a ship's course.
I shipped with them and becoming friends, we set forth on our venture, in health and safety; and sailed with a fair wind, till we came to a city called Madínat-al-Sín; […]
1885–1888, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, “Night 563”, in A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now Entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume (please specify the volume), [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC:
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Favorable, pleasant.
The weather was fair today.
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Favorable, pleasant. ▸ Not overcast; cloudless; clear.
a fair sky
They had good weather and tolerably fair winds, and before they entered the Straits of Magellan the captain had formulated a plan for the disposition of Garta.
1909, Frank R. Stockton, The adventures of Captain Horn, Chapter 42:
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Favorable, pleasant. ▸ Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unencumbered; open; direct; said of a road, passage, etc.
The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged.
c. 1610?, Walter Raleigh, A Discourse of War:a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view
- Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.
- Between the baselines.
- (of a catch) Taken direct from an opponent's foot, without the ball touching the ground or another player.
- (of a ball delivered by the bowler) Not a no ball.
-
Of a coin or die, having equal chance of landing on any side, unbiased.
A fair coin has a 50% chance of landing on heads.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| faire | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| fairest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| fairer | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
fair to middling · fairwater · fair ball · fair-headed · everything is fair in love and war · fair suck of the sav · turnabout is fair play · fair market value · fairhanded · fair-to-middlin' · fair game · fair weather friend · fair dos · fair share · fair value · fairlead · make fair weather · fair go · in a fair way · fair weather fan · fancy fair · set-fair · fair dinks · fair to meddling · fair enough · no fair · faint heart never won fair maiden · fair shake of the sauce bottle · fair-minded · fair crack of the whip · fairish · by fair means or foul · fair copy · Fair Head · fair suck of the sauce stick · Fairhead · fair-weather friend · fair fucks · fairmaid · North Fair Oaks · fair to middlin' · fair-skinned · play fair · to be fair · fairhood · Fairbank · fair-to-middling · fair leather · fair maids of France · Fairhaven · superfair · set fair · fair doos · fair cake-cutting · fair-built · culture-fair · fair-sized · fairness · fairsome · Fairbanks · Fair Lawn · fair comment · you can't say fairer than that · fair-weather friendship · fair trial · fair use · fair-maid-of-France · a fair bit · fair trade · fair wind · fair dinkum · fair suck of the sauce bottle · Fair Isle · fair penny · fair warning · fair cop · fair shake · fair-spoken · all's fair in love and war · fair do's · Fair Oaks · fair catch · Fair Haven · fair's fair · money and fair words · fair dealing · a fair booty makes many a thief · snout-fair · fair linen · a fair few · fairheaded · fair sex · turn about is fair play · fair-haired · fair-weather · fair as the day · faint heart never won fair lady · fair play · fair exchange is no robbery · fair-mannered · fair is fair · fairway · fair and square · fair suck of the pineapple · fair bet · fair division · fair list · fairleader · fair coin · hyperfair
Descendants
Synonyms
okay · clean · OK · pale · neat · pretty · pure · equitable · rightful · honest · beautiful · lovely · clean
Translations (282)
nl bevallig (pretty or attractive) · gd cothromach (just, equitable) · nl schappelijk (adequate, reasonable, decent) · gd maiseach (pretty or attractive) · ar مُحِقّ (just, equitable) · hu szőke (light in color or pale) · nl mooi (pretty or attractive) · tr insaflı (adequate, reasonable, decent) · hu méltányos (just, equitable) · sh ведро (not overcast or raining of weather) · sv skälig (adequate, reasonable, decent) · bg попътен (nautical: favorable to a ship's course) · fi irti (baseball: between the baselines) · th เป็นธรรม (just, equitable) · pt adequado (adequate, reasonable, decent) · fi oikeudenmukainen (just, equitable) · it virtuoso (unblemished and innocent) · ca just (just, equitable) · ko 가당하다 (just, equitable) · sh pràvičan (just, equitable) · fr joli (pretty or attractive) · hu világos (light in color or pale) · it giusta (just, equitable) · es inocente (unblemished and innocent) · es bello (pretty or attractive) · gd bàn (light in color or pale) · cs spravedlivý (just, equitable) · mi tūrehu (light in color or pale) · rm clar (light in color or pale) · it giusto (just, equitable) · nn rimeleg (adequate, reasonable, decent) · hy գեղեցիկ (pretty or attractive) · bg значителен (adequate, reasonable, decent) · hu elég jó (adequate, reasonable, decent) · nl rechtschapen (just, equitable) · ang fæġer (pretty or attractive) · hu tiszta (unblemished and innocent) · sh vedro (not overcast or raining of weather) · fi selkeä (not overcast or raining of weather) · fi nuhteeton (unblemished and innocent) · ar مُصَرَّح (adequate, reasonable, decent) · ja 公正な (just, equitable) · de hell (light in color or pale) · bg красив (pretty or attractive) · mi kōtea (light in color or pale) · ky укмуштай (pretty or attractive) · cy llywy (pretty or attractive) · tr kayda değer (adequate, reasonable, decent) · hu igazságos (just, equitable) · sv fager (pretty or attractive) · de erträglich (adequate, reasonable, decent) · tr açık (light in color or pale) · he צודק (adequate, reasonable, decent) · fr belle (pretty or attractive) · it biondo (light in color or pale) · sh пра̀вичан (just, equitable) · he בהיר (light in color or pale) · om dansaa (just, equitable) · ar أَشْقَر (light in color or pale) · pt inocente (unblemished and innocent) · it puro (unblemished and innocent) · ru краси́вый (pretty or attractive) · vi công bằng (just, equitable) · mi kirikōtea (light in color or pale) · ca equitatiu (adequate, reasonable, decent) · pt justo (just, equitable) · pt formoso (pretty or attractive) · grc ἐπιεικής (adequate, reasonable, decent) · fr blond (light in color or pale) · mi tūpaki (not overcast or raining of weather) · ar مُشْتَرَع (adequate, reasonable, decent) · sq bardhoshe (light in color or pale) · uk че́сний (just, equitable) · tr âdilâne (just, equitable) · fi tasapuolinen (just, equitable) · ru прие́млемый (adequate, reasonable, decent) · hy արդար (adequate, reasonable, decent) · cmn 美 (pretty or attractive) · sq ëmbël (unblemished and innocent) · fi kohtuullinen (adequate, reasonable, decent) · ota كوزل (pretty or attractive) · ko 공정하다 (just, equitable) · he פייר (adequate, reasonable, decent) · ar مَشْرُوع (adequate, reasonable, decent) · it bello (pretty or attractive) · pt bonito (pretty or attractive) · ja 公平な (just, equitable) · fr beau (pretty or attractive) · ru прекра́сный (pretty or attractive) · hy արդար (just, equitable) · it equo (just, equitable) · mi kakaho (light in color or pale) · sco bonny (pretty or attractive) · tr güzel (pretty or attractive) · hu szűz (unblemished and innocent) · ar مَقْبُول (adequate, reasonable, decent) · pl sprawiedliwy (just, equitable) · da rimelig (adequate, reasonable, decent) · nl doenbaar (adequate, reasonable, decent) · ba ғәҙел (just, equitable) · eo blonda (light in color or pale) · hu korrekt (just, equitable) · bg рус (light in color or pale) · ru че́стный (just, equitable) · grc οὔριος (nautical: favorable to a ship's course) · es ecuánime (just, equitable) · th แฟร์ (just, equitable) · da smuk (pretty or attractive) · sl pravičen (just, equitable) · es equitativo (just, equitable) · ba ыңғай (nautical: favorable to a ship's course) · hu fehér (light in color or pale) · fi vaalea (light in color or pale) · cy golau (light in color or pale) · hu fair (just, equitable) · hu kedvező (nautical: favorable to a ship's course) · tr kusursuz (unblemished and innocent) · eo bela (pretty or attractive) · nb rimelig (adequate, reasonable, decent) · fi pouta- (not overcast or raining of weather) · it bella (pretty or attractive) · it discreto (adequate, reasonable, decent) · it innocente (unblemished and innocent) · ca bell (pretty or attractive) · fr équitable (just, equitable) · is fagur (pretty or attractive) · fi kalpea (light in color or pale) · da retfærdig (just, equitable) · mi kōrakorako (light in color or pale) · tr masum (unblemished and innocent) · sq bukur (pretty or attractive) · la iustus (just, equitable) · hu szép (adequate, reasonable, decent) · cmn 美麗的 /美丽的 (pretty or attractive) · sk spravodlivý (just, equitable) · fi kohtalainen (adequate, reasonable, decent) · nl rechtvaardig (just, equitable) · gd sgèimheach (pretty or attractive) · bg невинен (unblemished and innocent) · da lys (light in color or pale) · da blond (light in color or pale) · he בהירה (light in color or pale) · pt honesto (just, equitable) · ar مُصِيب (just, equitable) · gd cothromach (adequate, reasonable, decent) · ja 相当な (adequate, reasonable, decent) · uk справедли́вий (just, equitable) · it sereno (not overcast or raining of weather) · de ganz ordentlich (adequate, reasonable, decent) · bg задоволителен (adequate, reasonable, decent) · tr beyaz tenli (light in color or pale) · pt belo (pretty or attractive) · fi sateeton (not overcast or raining of weather) · de gerecht (just, equitable) · is sanngjarn (just, equitable) · fi pilvetön (not overcast or raining of weather) · grc εὔμορφος (pretty or attractive) · fi viaton (unblemished and innocent) · it corretto (unblemished and innocent) · ar عادِل (just, equitable) · de den Umständen entsprechend (adequate, reasonable, decent) · eo sennuba (not overcast or raining of weather) · tr hakkaniyetli (just, equitable) · es justo (just, equitable) · ru правоме́рный (just, equitable) · nl correct (just, equitable) · de blond (light in color or pale) · ar نَزِيه (just, equitable) · ar مُنْصِف (just, equitable) · cmn 白皙 (light in color or pale) · la pulcher (pretty or attractive) · ja フェアの (baseball: between the baselines) · sv rimlig (adequate, reasonable, decent) · rm cler (light in color or pale) · el δίκαιος (just, equitable) · grc ὡραῖος (pretty or attractive) · hu megfelelő (adequate, reasonable, decent) · nl fair (just, equitable) · hu tisztességes (just, equitable) · fr clair (light in color or pale) · fi reilu (just, equitable) · km ដោយយុត្តិធម៌ (just, equitable) · pdt scheen (pretty or attractive) · cy teg (just, equitable) · eo justa (just, equitable) · hu elfogadható (adequate, reasonable, decent) · es razonable (adequate, reasonable, decent) · hu tiszta (not overcast or raining of weather) · sv rättvis (just, equitable) · hu tisztességes (adequate, reasonable, decent) · gd àlainn (pretty or attractive) · ms adil (just, equitable) · fi poutainen (not overcast or raining of weather) · fa روشن (light in color or pale) · fi kelvollinen (adequate, reasonable, decent) · fr juste (just, equitable) · la formōsus (pretty or attractive) · es pastel (light in color or pale) · ang rihtwīs (just, equitable) · ar مُشَرَّع (adequate, reasonable, decent) · pt decente (adequate, reasonable, decent) · gd bòidheach (pretty or attractive) · el ανοιχτός (light in color or pale) · ja 美しい (pretty or attractive) · de schön (pretty or attractive) · he הוגן (adequate, reasonable, decent) · sv blond (light in color or pale) · ar مُجَاز (adequate, reasonable, decent) · ar مُبَاح (adequate, reasonable, decent) · el ξανθός (light in color or pale) · cs fér (just, equitable) · ja 色白の (light in color or pale) · hu szép (pretty or attractive) · he הוגן (just, equitable) · hu viharmentes (not overcast or raining of weather) · bg хубав (pretty or attractive) · uk сві́тлий (light in color or pale) · ar حَقَّانِيّ (just, equitable) · nl eerlijk (just, equitable) · cmn 相當的 /相当的 (adequate, reasonable, decent) · ga álainn (pretty or attractive) · fi rehti (just, equitable) · de heiter (not overcast or raining of weather) · ar نَزْه (just, equitable) · cmn 公正的 (just, equitable) · hu meglehetős (adequate, reasonable, decent) · mk правичен (just, equitable) · bg справедли́в (just, equitable) · de hellhäutig (light in color or pale) · sv ljuslagd (light in color or pale) · fi kaunis (pretty or attractive) · gd fionn (light in color or pale) · ga réasúnta (just, equitable) · he צודק (just, equitable) · it equa (just, equitable) · he יפה (pretty or attractive) · hu üres (unblemished and innocent) · de wunderbar (pretty or attractive) · tr doğru (just, equitable) · fi myötäinen (nautical: favorable to a ship's course) · fi puhdas (unblemished and innocent) · ar مَأْذُون (adequate, reasonable, decent) · fr innocent (unblemished and innocent) · ar مُقْسِط (just, equitable) · pt equilibrado (just, equitable) · ru све́тлый (light in color or pale) · fi viehkeä (pretty or attractive) · ko 페어의 (baseball: between the baselines) · ar مُسَوَّغ (adequate, reasonable, decent) · hu korrekt (adequate, reasonable, decent) · ru сно́сный (adequate, reasonable, decent) · it discreta (adequate, reasonable, decent) · cmn 晴朗 (not overcast or raining of weather) · be справядлі́вы (just, equitable) · no rettferdig (just, equitable) · hu jogos (just, equitable) · de angebracht (adequate, reasonable, decent) · tr âdil (just, equitable) · ru справедли́вый (just, equitable) · de anständig (just, equitable) · es viento de popa (nautical: favorable to a ship's course) · mk праведен (just, equitable) · he יפה (pretty or attractive) · cmn 白淨 /白净 (light in color or pale) · fi rehellinen (just, equitable) · it chiaro (light in color or pale) · nl blank (light in color or pale) · bg неопетнен (unblemished and innocent) · pt claro (light in color or pale) · hu sportszerű (just, equitable) · nl redelijk (adequate, reasonable, decent) · ga fionn (light in color or pale) · mi tōkeke (just, equitable) · de fair (just, equitable) · zza xasek (diq) (pretty or attractive) · ar عَدْل (just, equitable) · he פייר (just, equitable) · fi riittävän hyvä (adequate, reasonable, decent) · hu derült (not overcast or raining of weather) · cy hardd (pretty or attractive) · nl bleek (light in color or pale) · fi puolueeton (just, equitable)