Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.
- adjective Light in color, especially blond.
- adjective Of light complexion.
- adjective Free of clouds or storms; clear and sunny.
- adjective Free of blemishes or stains; clean and pure.
- adjective Promising; likely.
- adjective Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial.
- adjective Just to all parties; equitable.
- adjective Being in accordance with relative merit or significance.
- adjective Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics.
- adjective Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory.
- adjective Superficially true or appealing; specious.
- adjective Lawful to hunt or attack.
- adjective Archaic Free of all obstacles.
- adverb In a proper or legal manner.
- adverb Directly; straight.
- transitive verb To join (pieces) so as to be smooth, even, or regular.
- noun Archaic A beautiful or beloved woman.
- noun Obsolete Loveliness; beauty.
- idiom (fair and square) Just and honest.
- idiom (for fair) To the greatest or fullest extent possible.
- idiom (no fair) Something contrary to the rules.
- noun A gathering held at a specified time and place for the buying and selling of goods; a market.
- noun An exhibition, as of farm products or manufactured goods, usually accompanied by various competitions and entertainments.
- noun An exhibition intended to inform people about a product or business opportunity.
- noun An event, usually for the benefit of a charity or public institution, including entertainment and the sale of goods; a bazaar.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Kindly; civilly; complaisantly; courteously.
- Honorably; honestly.
- Auspiciously; favorably; happily.
- Fairly; clearly.
- Correctly; straight or direct, as in aiming or hitting.
- To make fair or beautiful.
- Nautical, to adjust; make regular, or fair and smooth; specifically, to form in correct shape, as the timbers of a ship.
- To become fair or beautiful.
- To clear up; cease raining: applied to the weather, in reference to preceding rain: followed commonly by up or off.
- noun A stated market in a particular town or city; a regular meeting of buyers and sellers for trade.
- noun An occasional joint exhibition of articles for sale or inspection; a sale or an exhibition of goods for the promotion of some public interest or the aid of some public charity (see
bazaar , 2): as, an agricultural fair; a church fair. - noun Market; chance of selling.
- noun Doing; action; affair.
- Same as
fare . - Beautiful; comely; free from disfigurement or incongruity; pleasing to the eye: as, a fair landscape.
- Free from imperfections or blemish; pure, clean, unspotted, untarnished, etc.; free from anything that might impair the appearance, quality, or character; not foul: as, a fair copy; fair skies; fair fame.
- Of a light hue; clear in color; not dusky or sallow; not discolored: as, a fair skin or complexion; fair hair; the English are a fair race.
- Free from obscurity or doubt; clear; distinct; positive; direct: as, to get a fair view of a prospect; to take a fair aim.
- Marked by favoring conditions; affording ample facility or advantage; unobstructed; favorable: as, a fair field and no favor; a fair mark; in a fair way to success; a fair subject of ridicule.
- Comparatively favorable or propitious; not obstructive or forbidding; moderately fit or suitable: as, fair weather (as distinguished from clear or foul weather).
- Free from guile, harm, or injustice; not wrongful, erroneous, or blameworthy; impartial; honest; equitable: used both of persons and of things: as, fair dealing; a fair debater; a fair decision.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The merchant was generally offered a fair price for his bread or corn, and if he refused to accept it, rioters seized the goods, distributed them, and left the fair price in exchange.
1753 2001
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"None deserve the fair but the _brave_ [_deserve the fair_."] "They postpone the thing which [_they ought to do, and do not] but_ which [_thing_] they cannot avoid purposing to do."
English Grammar in Familiar Lectures Samuel Kirkham
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He objects to the expression, "eyes so fair," saying _fair_ is a bad word for eyes.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 104, June, 1866 Various
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Daura, my daughter, thou wert fair, fair as the moon on Fura, white as the driven snow, sweet as the breathing gale.
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River, which has since been "improved" out of existence, -- was a favorite place of resort with my old friend and his fair companion -- _fair_, no doubt she was, albeit her beauty was hidden from the vulgar gaze in the manner already indicated.
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Mr. Vincent will be left in the lurch; he will not even have the lady's fair hand -- her _fair_ heart is
Tales and Novels — Volume 03 Maria Edgeworth 1808
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English Clay had never considered the matter in this view before; but now it was pointed out, he confessed it struck him as _very fair -- very fair_: and his pride, of which he had a comfortable portion, being now touched, he asserted both his disinterestedness and his right to judge and choose in this business entirely for himself.
Tales and Novels — Volume 07 Maria Edgeworth 1808
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I. i.10 (396,5) Fair is foul, and foul is fair] I believe the meaning is, that _to us_, perverse and malignant as we are, _fair is foul, and foul is fair_.
Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies Samuel Johnson 1746
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Here we are four years later, and President Obama on Tuesday night linked the term "fair" to U.S. tax and economic policy seven times.
The Buffett Ruse 2012
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Synder's tax plan may be simple and efficient, but the word fair means different things to different people.
Paul Ruth: To Give or Not to Give, Is That Really the Question? Paul Ruth 2011
oroboros commented on the word fair
Contronymic in the sense: fine vs. mediocre.
January 27, 2007
frangarnes commented on the word fair
Rubio (pelo) // Similar meaning: blond, blonde // WordReference
October 19, 2007