1. F is the sixth letter of the English alphabet, and a nonvocal consonant. Its form and sound are from the Latin. The Latin borrowed the form from the Greek digamma &unr_;, which probably had the value of English w consonant. The form and value of Greek letter came from the Phœnician, the ultimate source being probably Egyptian. Etymologically f is most closely related to p, k, v, and b; as in E. five, Gr. pe`nte; E. wolf, L. lupus, Gr. ly`kos; E. fox, vixen ; fragile, break; fruit, brook, v. t.; E. bear, L. ferre. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 178, 179, 188, 198, 230. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) The name of the fourth tone of the model scale, or scale of C. F sharp (F ♯) is a tone intermediate between F and G. [ 1913 Webster ]

F clef, the bass clef. See under Clef. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. ] (Mus.) (a) A syllable applied to the fourth tone of the diatonic scale in solmization. (b) The tone F. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. [ shortened form of fabulous. ] extremely pleasing. [ Colloq. ]
Syn. -- fabulous. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A large natural family of trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs bearing bean pods; divided for convenience into the subfamilies Caesalpiniacea; Mimosaceae; Papilionaceae.
Syn. -- Leguminosae, family Leguminosae, family Fabaceae, legume family, pea family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. fabaceus, fr. faba bean. ] Having the nature of a bean; like a bean. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Fabellae [ NL., dim. of L. faba a bean. ] (Anat.) One of the small sesamoid bones situated behind the condyles of the femur, in some mammals. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Fabianus, Fabius, belonging to Fabius. ] Of, pertaining to, or in the manner of, the Roman general, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus; cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fabian policy, a policy like that of Fabius Maximus, who, by carefully avoiding decisive contests, foiled Hannibal, harassing his army by marches, countermarches, and ambuscades; a policy of delays and cautions. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to the Roman gens Fabia. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Designating, or pertaining to, a society of socialists, organized in England in 1884 to spread socialistic principles gradually without violent agitation.

The Fabian Society proposes then to conquer by delay; to carry its programme, not by a hasty rush, but through the slower, but, as it thinks, surer methods of patient discussion, exposition, and political action. William Clarke. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A member of, or sympathizer with, the Fabian Society. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a genus of South and Central American heathlike evergreen shrubs.
Syn. -- genus Fabiana. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the principles and beliefs of or similar to those of the Fabian Society, advocating socialism to be established by gradual reforms within the law. [ British ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F., fr. L. fabula, fr. fari to speak, say. See Ban, and cf. Fabulous, Fame. ] 1. A Feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue. See the Note under Apologue. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fable may have talking animals anthropomorphically cast as humans representing different character types, sometimes illustrating some moral principle; as, Aesop's Fables. [ PJC ]

2. The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem. [ 1913 Webster ]

The moral is the first business of the poet; this being formed, he contrives such a design or fable as may be most suitable to the moral. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk. “Old wives' fables. ” 1 Tim. iv. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

We grew
The fable of the city where we dwelt. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Fiction; untruth; falsehood. [ 1913 Webster ]

It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fabled p. pr. & vb. n. Fabling ] To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true. “He Fables not.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

He fables, yet speaks truth. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely. [ 1913 Webster ]

The hell thou fablest. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A writer of fables; a fabulist; a dealer in untruths or falsehoods. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Fabliaux [ F., fr. OF.fablel, dim. of fable a fable. ] (Fr. Lit.) One of the metrical tales of the Trouvères, or early poets of the north of France. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. fabrica fabric, workshop: cf. F. fabrique fabric. See Forge. ] 1. The structure of anything; the manner in which the parts of a thing are united; workmanship; texture; make; as cloth of a beautiful fabric. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is fabricated; as: (a) Framework; structure; edifice; building. [ 1913 Webster ]

Anon out of the earth a fabric huge
Rose like an exhalation. Milton.

(b) Cloth of any kind that is woven or knit from fibers, whether vegetable, animal, or synthetic; manufactured cloth; as, silks or other fabrics; made of a fabric that is 50% cotton and 50% polyester. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of constructing; construction. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Tithe was received by the bishop, . . . for the fabric of the churches for the poor. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any system or structure consisting of connected parts; as, the fabric of the universe. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whole vast fabric of society. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fabricked p. pr. & vb. n. Fabricking. ] To frame; to build; to construct. [ Obs. ] “Fabric their mansions.” J. Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] One who fabricates; a manufacturer. Simmonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fabricated p. pr. & vb. n. Fabricating ] [ L. fabricatus, p. p. of fabricari, fabricare, to frame, build, forge, fr. fabrica. See Fabric, Farge. ] 1. To form into a whole by uniting its parts; to frame; to construct; to build; as, to fabricate a bridge or ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To form by art and labor; to manufacture; to produce; as, to fabricate woolens. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To invent and form; to forge; to devise falsely; as, to fabricate a lie or story. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our books were not fabricated with an accomodation to prevailing usages. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. formed or conceived by the fancy or imagination; as, a fabricated excuse for his absence.
Syn. -- fancied, fictional, fictitious, fictive, invented, made-up. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. fabricatio; cf. F. fabrication. ] 1. The act of fabricating, framing, or constructing; construction; manufacture; as, the fabrication of a bridge, a church, or a government. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is fabricated; a falsehood; as, the story is doubtless a fabrication.

Syn. -- See Fiction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who fabricates; one who constructs or makes. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fabricator of the works of Ossian. Mason. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who fabricates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. fabrilis, fr. faber workman. See Forge. ] Pertaining to a workman, or to work in stone, metal, wood etc.; as, fabrile skill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. fabuliste, fr. L. fabula. See Fable. ] One who invents or writes fables. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fabulized p. pr. & vb. n. Fabulizing ] [ Cf. F. fabuliser. See Fable. ] To invent, compose, or relate fables or fictions. G. S. Faber. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. fabulositas: cf. F. fabulosité. ] 1. Fabulousness. [ R. ] Abp. Abbot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fabulous or fictitious story. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. fabulosus; cf. F. fabuleux. See Fable. ] 1. Feigned, as a story or fable; related in fable; devised; invented; not real; fictitious; as, a fabulous description; a fabulous hero. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fabulous birth of Minerva. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Beyond belief; exceedingly great; as, a fabulous price. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Exceptionally good; extremely pleasing. [ informal ] [ PJC ]

Fabulous age, that period in the history of a nation of which the only accounts are myths and unverified legends; as, the fabulous age of Greece and Rome.

-- Fab"u*lous*ly adv. -- Fab"u*lous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. faux bourdon. See False, and Burden a verse. ] 1. (Mus.) (a) A species of counterpoint with a drone bass. (b) A succession of chords of the sixth. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A monotonous refrain. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Abbrev. of facsimile. ] A large ornamental letter used, esp. by the early printers, at the commencement of the chapters and other divisions of a book. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. It. facciata, fr. faccia face, L. facies. See Face. ] (Arch.) The front of a building; esp., the principal front, having some architectural pretensions. Thus a church is said to have its façade unfinished, though the interior may be in use. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., from L. facies form, shape, face, perh. from facere to make (see Fact); or perh. orig. meaning appearance, and from a root meaning to shine, and akin to E. fancy. Cf. Facetious. ] 1. The exterior form or appearance of anything; that part which presents itself to the view; especially, the front or upper part or surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

A mist . . . watered the whole face of the ground. Gen. ii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That part of a body, having several sides, which may be seen from one point, or which is presented toward a certain direction; one of the bounding planes of a solid; as, a cube has six faces. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mach.) (a) The principal dressed surface of a plate, disk, or pulley; the principal flat surface of a part or object. (b) That part of the acting surface of a cog in a cog wheel, which projects beyond the pitch line. (c) The width of a pulley, or the length of a cog from end to end; as, a pulley or cog wheel of ten inches face. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Print.) (a) The upper surface, or the character upon the surface, of a type, plate, etc. (b) The style or cut of a type or font of type. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether natural, assumed, or acquired. [ 1913 Webster ]

To set a face upon their own malignant design. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

This would produce a new face of things in Europe. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

We wear a face of joy, because
We have been glad of yore. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes, cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Gen. iii. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air; appearance. [ 1913 Webster ]

We set the best faceon it we could. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Astrol.) Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is the man that has the face to charge others with false citations. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. Presence; sight; front; as in the phrases, before the face of, in the immediate presence of; in the face of, before, in, or against the front of; as, to fly in the face of danger; to the face of, directly to; from the face of, from the presence of. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger; mostly in Scriptural phrases. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. Num. vi. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

My face [ favor ] will I turn also from them. Ezek. vii. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. (Mining) The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or excavation, at which work is progressing or was last done. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. (Com.) The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, or other mercantile paper, without any addition for interest or reduction for discount; most commonly called face value. McElrath. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Face is used either adjectively or as part of a compound; as, face guard or face-guard; face cloth; face plan or face-plan; face hammer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Face ague (Med.), a form of neuralgia, characterized by acute lancinating pains returning at intervals, and by twinges in certain parts of the face, producing convulsive twitches in the corresponding muscles; -- called also tic douloureux. --
Face card, one of a pack of playing cards on which a human face is represented; the king, queen, or jack. --
Face cloth, a cloth laid over the face of a corpse. --
Face guard, a mask with windows for the eyes, worn by workman exposed to great heat, or to flying particles of metal, stone, etc., as in glass works, foundries, etc. --
Face hammer, a hammer having a flat face. --
Face joint (Arch.), a joint in the face of a wall or other structure. --
Face mite (Zool.), a small, elongated mite (Demdex folliculorum), parasitic in the hair follicles of the face. --
Face mold, the templet or pattern by which carpenters, etc., outline the forms which are to be cut out from boards, sheet metal, etc. --
Face plate. (a) (Turning) A plate attached to the spindle of a lathe, to which the work to be turned may be attached. (b) A covering plate for an object, to receive wear or shock. (c) A true plane for testing a dressed surface. Knight. --
Face wheel. (Mach.) (a) A crown wheel. (b) A wheel whose disk face is adapted for grinding and polishing; a lap. --
face value the value written on a financial instrument; same as face{ 13 }. Also used metaphorically, to mean apparent value; as, to take his statemnet at its face value. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cylinder face (Steam Engine), the flat part of a steam cylinder on which a slide valve moves. --
Face of an anvil, its flat upper surface. --
Face of a bastion (Fort.), the part between the salient and the shoulder angle. --
Face of coal (Mining), the principal cleavage plane, at right angles to the stratification. --
Face of a gun, the surface of metal at the muzzle. --
Face of a place (Fort.), the front comprehended between the flanked angles of two neighboring bastions. Wilhelm. --
Face of a square (Mil.), one of the sides of a battalion when formed in a square. --
Face of a
watch, clock, compass, card etc., the dial or graduated surface on which a pointer indicates the time of day, point of the compass, etc. --
Face to face. (a) In the presence of each other; as, to bring the accuser and the accused face to face. (b) Without the interposition of any body or substance. “Now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face.” 1 Cor. xiii. 12. (c) With the faces or finished surfaces turned inward or toward one another; vis à vis; -- opposed to back to back. --
To fly in the face of, to defy; to brave; to withstand. --
To make a face, to distort the countenance; to make a grimace; -- often expressing dislike, annoyance, or disagreement. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Faced p. pr. & vb. n. Facing ] 1. To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll face
This tempest, and deserve the name of king. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To Confront impudently; to bully. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will neither be facednor braved. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front toward; to front upon; as, the apartments of the general faced the park; some of the seats on the train faced backward. [ 1913 Webster ]

He gained also with his forces that part of Britain which faces Ireland. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing upon; as, a building faced with marble. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To line near the edge, esp. with a different material; as, to face the front of a coat, or the bottom of a dress. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To cover with better, or better appearing, material than the mass consists of, for purpose of deception, as the surface of a box of tea, a barrel of sugar, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Mach.) To make the surface of (anything) flat or smooth; to dress the face of (a stone, a casting, etc.); esp., in turning, to shape or smooth the flat surface of, as distinguished from the cylindrical surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To cause to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction. [ 1913 Webster ]

To face down, to put down by bold or impudent opposition. “He faced men down.” Prior. --
To face (a thing) out, to persist boldly or impudently in an assertion or in a line of conduct. “That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.” Shak. --
to face the music to admit error and accept reprimand or punishment as a consequence for having failed or having done something wrong; to willingly experience an unpleasant situation out of a sense of duty or obligation; as, as soon as he broke the window with the football, Billy knew he would have to face the music. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. i. 1. To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite. “To lie, to face, to forge.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left. [ 1913 Webster ]

Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid! Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To present a face or front. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having (such) a face, or (so many) faces; as, smooth-faced, two-faced. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. to harden (steel) by adding carbon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. an operation to remove wrinkles and other signs of aging from a person's face.
Syn. -- face lifting, rhytidectomy, rhytidoplasty. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a renovation that improves the outward appearance, as of a building.
Syn. -- face lifting. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. to perform cosmetic surgery on someone's face.
Syn. -- lift. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. One who faces; one who puts on a false show; a bold-faced person. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There be no greater talkers, nor boasters, nor fasers. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A blow in the face, as in boxing; hence, any severe or stunning check or defeat, as in controversy. [ Collog. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I should have been a stercoraceous mendicant if I had hollowed when I got a facer. C. Kingsley.

3. a serious difficulty with which one is suddenly faced. [ wns=1 ] [ obsolescent Briticism ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. allowing one to maintain one's dignity or prestige; designed to avoid admitting something embarrassing; as, a face-saving compromise; -- of actions. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. facette, dim. of face face. See Face. ] 1. A little face; a small, plane surface; as, the facets of a diamond. [ Written also facette. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) A smooth circumscribed surface; as, the articular facet of a bone. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) The narrow plane surface between flutings of a column. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) One of the numerous small eyes which make up the compound eyes of insects and crustaceans. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Faceted; p. pr. & vb. n. Faceting. ] To cut facets or small faces upon; as, to facet a diamond. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. facetus elegant, fine, facetious; akin to facies. See Face, and cf. Facetious. ] Facetious; witty; humorous. [ Archaic ] “A facete discourse.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

“How to interpose” with a small, smart remark, sentiment facete, or unctuous anecdote. Prof. Wilson.

-- Fa*cete"ly, adv. -- Fa*cete"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having facets. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ L., fr. facetus. See Facete. ] Witty or humorous writings or saying; witticisms; merry conceits. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Time spent speaking with a person face-to-face; -- contrasted with time spent communicating by electronic media, such as telephone or e-mail, or via written communications; as, the chief of staff has the most face time with the president. [ Recent ] [ PJC ]

a. [ Cf. F. facétieux. See Facetiæ. ] 1. Given to wit and good humor; merry; sportive; jocular; as, a facetious companion. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Characterized by wit and pleasantry; exciting laughter; as, a facetious story or reply.

-- Fa*ce"tious*ly, adv. -- Fa*ce"tious*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. without intervening persons; involving direct communication between persons in each other's presence; -- of conversation or confrontation; as, face-to-face negotiations.
Syn. -- person-to-person. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. having the front parts facing each other. [ PJC ]

n. [ F. ] See Facet, n. [ 1913 Webster ]