n. [ OE. afere, affere, OF. afaire, F. affaire, fr. a faire to do; L.. ad + facere to do. See Fact, and cf. Ado. ] 1. That which is done or is to be done; matter; concern; as, a difficult affair to manage; business of any kind, commercial, professional, or public; -- often in the plural. “At the head of affairs.” Junius. “A talent for affairs.” Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any proceeding or action which it is wished to refer to or characterize vaguely; as, an affair of honor, i. e., a duel; an affair of love, i. e., an intrigue. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mil.) An action or engagement not of sufficient magnitude to be called a battle. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Action; endeavor. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And with his best affair
Obeyed the pleasure of the Sun. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A material object (vaguely designated). [ 1913 Webster ]

A certain affair of fine red cloth much worn and faded. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ F. Lit., to the deed, act, or point. Fait is fr. L. factum. See Fact. ] Expert; skillful; well instructed. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Chargés d'affaires. [ F., “charged with affairs.” ] A diplomatic representative, or minister of an inferior grade, accredited by the government of one state to the minister of foreign affairs of another; also, a substitute, ad interim, for an ambassador or minister plenipotentiary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Counterfesance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. défaillir to fail; pref. dé- (L. de) + faillir. See Fail, and cf. Default. ] To cause to fail. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. défaillance. ] Failure; miscarriage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Possibility of defailance in degree or continuance. Comber. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Failure. [ Obs. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ n. [ F., fr. Faenza, a town in Italy, the original place of manufacture. ] Glazed earthenware; esp., a fine variety that which is decorated with colorful designs in an opaque glaze. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

pos>v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Failed p. pr. & vb. n. Failing. ] [ F. failir, fr. L. fallere, falsum, to deceive, akin to E. fall. See Fail, and cf. Fallacy, False, Fault. ] 1. To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence; to cease to be furnished in the usual or expected manner, or to be altogether cut off from supply; to be lacking; as, streams fail; crops fail. [ 1913 Webster ]

As the waters fail from the sea. Job xiv. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; -- used with of. [ 1913 Webster ]

If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not be attributed to their size. Berke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink. [ 1913 Webster ]

When earnestly they seek
Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To perish; to die; -- used of a person. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Had the king in his last sickness failed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To be found wanting with respect to an action or a duty to be performed, a result to be secured, etc.; to miss; not to fulfill expectation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Take heed now that ye fail not to do this. Ezra iv. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired ; to be baffled or frusrated. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our envious foe hath failed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To err in judgment; to be mistaken. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps
Shall grieve him, if I fail not. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent; as, many credit unions failed in the late 1980's. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To be wanting to ; to be insufficient for; to disappoint; to desert. [ 1913 Webster ]

There shall not fail thee a man on the throne. 1 Kings ii. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To miss of attaining; to lose. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Though that seat of earthly bliss be failed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. faille, from failir. See Fail, v. i. ] 1. Miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; -- mostly superseded by failure or failing, except in the phrase without fail. “His highness' fail of issue.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Death; decease. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Of. faillance, fr. faillir. ] Fault; failure; omission. [ Obs. ] Bp. Fell. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. unsuccessful. Opposite of successful.
Syn. -- failing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. A failing short; a becoming deficient; failure; deficiency; imperfection; weakness; lapse; fault; infirmity; as, a mental failing. [ 1913 Webster ]

And ever in her mind she cast about
For that unnoticed failing in herself. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of becoming insolvent of bankrupt.

Syn. -- See Fault. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] A soft silk, heavier than a foulard and not glossy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Fail. ] 1. Cessation of supply, or total defect; a failing; deficiency; as, failure of rain; failure of crops. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Omission; nonperformance; as, the failure to keep a promise. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Want of success; the state of having failed. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Decay, or defect from decay; deterioration; as, the failure of memory or of sight. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A becoming insolvent; bankruptcy; suspension of payment; as, failure in business. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A failing; a slight fault. [ Obs. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To be glad ; to wish or desire. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Whoso fair thing does fain to see. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. fain, fagen, AS. fægen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel. faginn glad; AS. fægnian to rejoice, OS. faganōn, Icel. fagna, Goth. faginōn, cf. Goth. fahēds joy; and fr. the same root as E. fair. Srr Fair, a., and cf. Fawn to court favor. ] 1. Well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men and birds are fain of climbing high. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To a busy man, temptation is fainto climb up together with his business. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Satisfied; contented; also, constrained. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The learned Castalio was fain to make trechers at Basle to keep himself from starving. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With joy; gladly; -- with wold. [ 1913 Webster ]

He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat. Luke xv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fain Would I woo her, yet I dare not. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ Cf. OF. faineance. See Fainéant. ] Do-nothingness; inactivity; indolence.

The mask of sneering faineance was gone. C. Kingsley. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖ a. [ F.; fait he does + néant nothing. ] Doing nothing; shiftless; disinclined to work or exertion.
Syn. -- bone-idle, bone-lazy, do-nothing(prenominal), indolent, lazy, otiose, shiftless, slothful, workshy, work-shy. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

‖ n. A do-nothing; an idle fellow; a sluggard. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A deity believed to be real but conceived as not acting in human affairs, hence not worshiped. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Compar. Fainter superl. Faintest. ] [ OE. feint, faint, false, faint, F. feint, p. p. of feindre to feign, suppose, hesitate. See Feign, and cf. Feint. ] 1. Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed; as, “Faint heart ne'er won fair lady.” Old Proverb. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The faint prosecution of the war. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of fainting, or the state of one who has fainted; a swoon. [ R. ] See Fainting, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

The saint,
Who propped the Virgin in her faint. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fainting. ] 1. To become weak or wanting in vigor; to grow feeble; to lose strength and color, and the control of the bodily or mental functions; to swoon; -- sometimes with away. See Fainting, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hearing the honor intended her, she fainted away. Guardian. [ 1913 Webster ]

If I send them away fasting . . . they will faint by the way. Mark viii. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent. [ 1913 Webster ]

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Prov. xxiv. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To decay; to disappear; to vanish. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to faint or become dispirited; to depress; to weaken. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It faints me to think what follows. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Wanting in courage; depressed by fear; easily discouraged or frightened; cowardly; timorous; dejected. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fear not, neither be faint-hearted. Is. vii. 4.

-- Faint"-heart`ed*ly, adv. -- Faint"-heart`ed*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Syncope, or loss of consciousness owing to a sudden arrest of the blood supply to the brain, the face becoming pallid, the respiration feeble, and the heat's beat weak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fainting fit, a fainting or swoon; syncope. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Slightly faint; somewhat faint. -- Faint"ish*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

a. Timorous; feeble-minded. [ Obs. ] “A fainting, silly creature.” Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a faint, weak, or timidmanner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state of being faint; loss of strength, or of consciousness, and self-control. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Want of vigor or energy. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Feebleness, as of color or light; lack of distinctness; as, faintness of description. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Faint-heartedness; timorousness; dejection. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will send a faintness into their hearts. Lev. xxvi. 36. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. The impure spirit which comes over first and last in the distillation of whisky; -- the former being called the strong faints, and the latter, which is much more abundant, the weak faints. This crude spirit is much impregnated with fusel oil. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Feeble; languid. [ R. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To make fair or beautiful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Fairing the foul. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Shipbuilding) To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Fairer superl. Fairest. ] [ OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. fæger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. fügen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and prob. also to E. fang, peace, pact, Cf. Fang, Fain, Fay to fit. ] 1. Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fair white linen cloth. Book of Common Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin. [ 1913 Webster ]

The northern people large and fair-complexioned. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; -- said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day. [ 1913 Webster ]

You wish fair winds may waft him over. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Shipbuilding) Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; -- said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Characterized 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.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; -- said of words, promises, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty. L' Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen. [ 1913 Webster ]

The news is very fair and good, my lord. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fair ball. (Baseball) (a) A ball passing over the home base at the height called for by the batsman, and delivered by the pitcher while wholly within the lines of his position and facing the batsman. (b) A batted ball that falls inside the foul lines; -- called also a fair hit. --
Fair maid. (Zool.) (a) The European pilchard (Clupea pilchardus) when dried. (b) The southern scup (Stenotomus Gardeni). [ Virginia ] --
Fair one, a handsome woman; a beauty, --
Fair play, equitable or impartial treatment; a fair or equal chance; justice. --
From fair to middling, passable; tolerable. [ Colloq. ] --
The fair sex, the female sex.

Syn. -- Candid; open; frank; ingenuous; clear; honest; equitable; impartial; reasonable. See Candid. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fair and square, justly; honestly; equitably; impartially. [ Colloq. ] --
To bid fair. See under Bid. --
To speak fair, to address with courtesy and frankness. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Fairness, beauty. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fair woman; a sweetheart. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have found out a gift for my fair. Shenstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Good fortune; good luck. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now fair befall thee ! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fair, anything beautiful; women, collectively. “For slander's mark was ever yet the fair.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 regular season, or by special appointment, for trade. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair; a church fair. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an agricultural fair. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. an exhibition by a number of organizations, including governmental organizations, for the purpose of acquainting people with such organizations or their members, not primarily for commercial purposes; as, the 1939 World's Fair. [ PJC ]

Meet me in St. Louis, Louis
Meet me at the fair
Don't tell me the lights are shining
Anyplace but there. Song (1904: words by Andrew B. Sterling, music by Kerry Mills, popularized by Billy Murray. Prominent in the movie "Meet Me In St. Louis", 1944) [ PJC ]

After the fair, Too late. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. justly; honestly; equitably; impartially. Opposite of unfairly. [ Colloq. ] [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adj. fair and honest; just. Opposite of unfair. [ Colloq. ]
Syn. -- honest. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

. (Football) A catch made by a player on side who makes a prescribed signal that he will not attempt to advance the ball when caught. He must not then be interfered with. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. an open area for holding fairs or exhibitions or circuses. Often used in plural. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. pl. same as fairground. [ PJC ]

a. 1. Having fair or light-colored hair. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. favorite; considered especially talented or promising; as, the fair-haired boy of the literary set. [ prenominal ] [ informal ]
Syn. -- blue-eyed(prenominal), white-haired(prenominal), white-headed. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. Fairness; beauty. [ Obs. ] Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of a fairy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Numerous as shadows haunting fairily
The brain. Keats. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A present; originally, one given or purchased at a fair. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fairing box, a box receiving savings or small sums of money. Hannah More. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tolerably fair. [ Colloq. ] W. D. Howells. [ 1913 Webster ]