n. [ AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. Van a winnowing machine, Winnow. ] 1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad surface; as: (a) An instrument for cooling the person, made of feathers, paper, silk, etc., and often mounted on sticks all turning about the same pivot, so as when opened to radiate from the center and assume the figure of a section of a circle. (b) (Mach.) Any revolving vane or vanes used for producing currents of air, in winnowing grain, blowing a fire, ventilation, etc., or for checking rapid motion by the resistance of the air; a fan blower; a fan wheel. (c) An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away. (d) Something in the form of a fan when spread, as a peacock's tail, a window, etc. (e) A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock windmill always in the direction of the wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. Is. xxx. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which produces effects analogous to those of a fan, as in exciting a flame, etc.; that which inflames, heightens, or strengthens; as, it served as a fan to the flame of his passion. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A quintain; -- from its form. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fan blower, a wheel with vanes fixed on a rotating shaft inclosed in a case or chamber, to create a blast of air (fan blast) for forge purposes, or a current for draft and ventilation; a fanner. --
Fan cricket (Zool.), a mole cricket. --
Fan light (Arch.), a window over a door; -- so called from the semicircular form and radiating sash bars of those windows which are set in the circular heads of arched doorways. --
Fan shell (Zool.), any shell of the family Pectinidæ. See Scallop, n., 1. --
Fan tracery (Arch.), the decorative tracery on the surface of fan vaulting. --
Fan vaulting (Arch.), an elaborate system of vaulting, in which the ribs diverge somewhat like the rays of a fan, as in Henry VII.'s chapel in Westminster Abbey. It is peculiar to English Gothic. --
Fan wheel, the wheel of a fan blower. --
Fan window. Same as Fan light (above). --
electric fan. a fan having revolving blades for propelling air, powered by an electric motor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fanned p. pr. & vb. n. Fanning ] [ Cf. OF. vanner, L. vannere. See Fan, n., Van a winnowing machine. ] 1. To move as with a fan. [ 1913 Webster ]

The air . . . fanned with unnumbered plumes. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cool and refresh, by moving the air with a fan; to blow the air on the face of with a fan. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To ventilate; to blow on; to affect by air put in motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Calm as the breath which fans our eastern groves. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To winnow; to separate chaff from, and drive it away by a current of air; as, to fan wheat. Jer. li. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To excite or stir up to activity, as a fan excites a flame; to stimulate; as, this conduct fanned the excitement of the populace. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fanning machine, or
Fanning mill, a machine for separating seed from chaff, etc., by a blast of air; a fanner. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] A lighthouse, or the apparatus placed in it for giving light. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant notions of religion. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a new word, coined within few months, called fanatics, which, by the close stickling thereof, seemeth well cut out and proportioned to signify what is meant thereby, even the sectaries of our age. Fuller (1660). [ 1913 Webster ]

Fanatics are governed rather by imagination than by judgment. Stowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. fanaticus inspired by divinity, enthusiastic, frantic, fr. fanum fane: cf. F. fanatique. See Fane. ] Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic, especially on religious subjects; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic notions. [ 1913 Webster ]

But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast
To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last. T. Moore. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characteristic of, or relating to, fanaticism; fanatic. -Fa*nat"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Fa*nat"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Fanatism. ] Excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and extravagant notions, on any subject, especially religion, politics or ideology; religious frenzy.

Syn. -- See Superstition. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fanaticized p. pr. & vb. n. Fanaticizing ] To cause to become a fanatic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. fanatisme. Cf. Fanaticism. ] Fanaticism. [ R. ] Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Fancy, v. t. ] Formed or conceived by the fancy; unreal; as, a fancied wrong. [ 1913 Webster ]