Defn: Eye agate. See under Eye.
EYESTRINGEye"string`, n.
Defn: The tendon by which the eye is moved. Shak.
EYETEy"et, n.
Defn: An island. See Eyot.
EYETOOTHEye"tooth, n.; pl. Eyeteeth ( (Anat.)
Defn: A canine tooth of the upper jaw. See Teeth. To cut one's eyeteeth, to become acute or knowing. [Colloq.]
EYEWASHEye"wash, n.
Defn: See Eyewater.
EYEWATEREye"wa`ter, n. (Med.)
Defn: A wash or lotion for application to the eyes.
EYEWINKEye"wink`, n.
Defn: A wink; a token. Shak.
EYEWINKEREye"wink`er, n.
Defn: An eyelash. [A child's word.]
EYEWITNESSEye"wit`ness, n.
Defn: One who sees a thing done; one who has ocular view anything.We . . . were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Pet. i. 16.
EYGHENEy"ghen, n. pl.
Defn: Eyes. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EYGHTEyght, n.
Defn: An island. See Eyot.
EYLEEyle v. t.& i.
Defn: To ail. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EYLIADEy"liad, n.
Defn: See Eiliad.
EYNE; EYENEyne, or Ey"en, n.
Defn: Plural of eye; obsolete, or used only in poetry. Shak.With such a plaintive gaze their eyne Are fastened upwardly on mine.Mrs. Browning.
EYOT Ey"ot, n. Etym: [Ey (AS. ig or Icel. ey) + F. dim. termination -ot; cf. AS. igeoedt. See Island, and cf. Ait.]
Defn: A little island in a river or lake. See Ait. [Written also ait, ayt, eey, eyet, and eyght.] Blackstone.
EYREyr, n. Etym: [See Air.]
Defn: Air. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EYRAEy"ra, n. Etym: [Native South American name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wild cat (Felis eyra) ranging from southern Brazil to Texas. It is reddish yellow and about the size of the domestic cat, but with a more slender body and shorter legs.
EYREEyre, n. Etym: [OF. erre journey, march, way, fr. L. iter, itineris,a going, way, fr. the root of ire to go. Cf. Errant, Itinerant,Issue.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A journey in circuit of certain judges called justices in eyre (or in itinere).
Note: They were itinerant judges, who rode the circuit, holding courts in the different counties.
EYRENEy"ren, n. pl.
Defn: See Ey, an egg.
EYRIE; EYRYEy"rie, Ey"ry, n.; pl. Ey"ries. Etym: [See Aerie]
Defn: The nest of a bird of prey or other large bird that builds in alofty place; aerie.The eagle and the stork On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build.Milton.
EYSELLEy"sell, n.
Defn: Same as Eisel. [Obs.] Shak.
FF (êf)
Defn: .
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 w consonant. The form and value of Greek letter came from the Phoenician, the ultimate source being probably Egyptian. Etymologically fis most closely related to p,k,v, and b; as in E. five, Gr. f, L. lupus, Gr. fox, vixen ; fragile, break ; fruit, brook, v. t.; E. bear, L. ferre. See Guide to Pronunciation, sq. root 178, 179, 188, 198, 230.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: 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. F clef, the bass clef. See under Clef.
FA Fa, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.) (a) A syllable applied to the fourth tone of the diatonic scale in solmization. (b) The tone F.
FABACEOUSFa*ba"ceous, a. Etym: [L. fabaceus, fr. faba bean.]
Defn: Having the nature of a bean; like a bean.
FABELLAFa*bel"la, n.; pl. Fabellae (-l. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. faba a bean.](Anat.)
Defn: One of the small sesamoid bones situated behind the condyles of the femur, in some mammals.
FABIANFa"bi*an, a. Etym: [L. Fabianus, Fabius, belonging to Fabius.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or in the manner of, the Roman general, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus; cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest. 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.
FABLE Fa"ble, n. Etym: [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. Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant. Addison .
2. The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem. 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.
3. Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk. "Old wives' fables. " 1 Tim. iv. 7. We grew The fable of the city where we dwelt. Tennyson.
4. Fiction; untruth; falsehood. It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods. Addison.
FABLEFa"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fabling.]
Defn: To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to writeor utter what is not true. "He Fables not." Shak.Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell. Prior.He fables, yet speaks truth. M. Arnold.
FABLEFa"ble, v. t.
Defn: To fiegn; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real;to tell of falsely.The hell thou fablest. Milton.
FABLERFa"bler, n.
Defn: A writer of fables; a fabulist; a dealer in untruths or falsehoods. Br. Hall.
FABLIAU Fa`bli`au", n.; pl. Fabliaux . Etym: [F., fr. OF.fablel, dim. of fable a fable.] (Fr. Lit.)
Defn: One of the metrical tales of the Trouvères, or early poets of the north of France.
FABRIC Fab"ric, n. Etym: [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.
2. That which is fabricated; as : (a) Framework; structure; edifice; building. 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, either vegetable or animal; manufactured cloth; as, silks or other fabrics.
3. The act of constructing; construction. [R.] Tithe was received by the bishop, . . . for the fabricof the churches for the poor. Milman.
4. Any system or structure consisting of connected parts; as, the fabric of the universe. The whole vast fabric of society. Macaulay.
FABRICFab"ric, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fabricked; p. pr. & vb. n. Fabricking.]
Defn: To frame; to built; to construct. [Obs.] "Fabric their mansions." J. Philips.
FABRICANTFab"ri*cant, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One who fabricates; a manufacturer. Simmonds.
FABRICATEFab"ri*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fabricated; p. pr. & vb. n.Fabricating.] Etym: [L. fabricatus, p.p. of fabricari, fabricare, toframe, 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.
2. To form by art and labor; to manufacture; to produce; as, to fabricate woolens.
3. To invent and form; to forge; to devise falsely; as, to fabricate a lie or story. Our books were not fabricated with an accomodation to prevailing usages. Paley.
FABRICATIONFab`ri*ca"tion, n. Etym: [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.
2. That which is fabricated; a falsehood; as, the story is doubtless a fabrication.
Syn.— See Fiction.
FABRICATORFab"ri*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who fabricates; one who constructs or makes.The fabricator of the works of Ossian. Mason.
FABRICATRESSFab"ri*ca`tress, n.
Defn: A woman who fabricates.
FABRILEFab"rile, a. Etym: [L. fabrilis, fr. faber workman. See Forge.]
Defn: Pertaining to a workman, or to work in stone, metal, wood etc.; as, fabrile skill.
FABULISTFab"u*list, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fabuliste, fr. L. fabula. See Fable.]
Defn: One who invents or writes fables.
FABULIZEFab"u*lize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fabulized; p. pr. & vb. n.Fabulizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. fabuliser. See Fable.]
Defn: To invent, compose, or relate fables or fictions. G. S. Faber.
FABULOSITYFab`u*los"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. fabulositas: cf. F. fabulosité.]
1. Fabulousness. [R.] Abp. Abbot.
2. A fabulous or fictitious story. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
FABULOUSFab"u*lous, a. Etym: [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. The fabulous birth of Minerva. Chesterfield.
2. Passing belief; exceedingly great; as, a fabulous price. Macaulay. 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 Greek and Rome. — Fab"u*lous*ly, adv. — Fab"u*lous*ness, n.
FABURDEN Fab"ur*den, n. Etym: [F. foux bpirdon. 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.]
2. A monotonous refrain. [Obs.] Holland.
FACFac, n. Etym: [Abbrev. of facsimile.]
Defn: A large ornamental letter used, esp. by the early printers, at the commencement of the chapters and other divisions of a book. Brande & C.
FACADEFa`çade", n. Etym: [F., fr. It. facciata, fr. fassia face, L. facies.See Face.] (Arch.)
Defn: The front of a building; esp., the principal front, having some architectural pretensions. Thus a church is said to have its facade unfinished, though the interior may be in use.
FACE Face, n. Etym: [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. A mist . . . watered the whole face of the ground. Gen. ii. 6. Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face. Byron.
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.
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.
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.
5. Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether natural, assumed, or acquired. To set a face upon their own malignant design. Milton. This would produce a new face of things in Europe. Addison. We wear a face of joy, because We have been glad of yore. Wordsworth.
6. That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes, cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Gen. iii. 19.
7. Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air; appearance. We set the best faceon it we could. Dryden.
8. (Astrol.)
Defn: Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac. Chaucer.
9. Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery. This is the man that has the face to charge others with false citations. Tillotson.
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 presenceof.
11. Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger; mostly in Scriptural phrases. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. Num. vi. 25. My face [favor] will I turn also from them. Ezek. vii. 22.
12. (Mining)
Defn: The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or excavation, at which work is progressing or was last done.
13. (Com.)
Defn: The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, or other mercantile paper, without any addition for interest or reduction for discount. McElrath.
Note: 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. 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 (Zoöll.), a small, elongated mite (Demdex folliculorum), parasitic in the hair follicles of the face. — Face mold, the templet or pattern by which carpenters, ect., outline the forms which are to be cut out from boards, sheet metal, ect. — 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. 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. Shak.
FACEFace, 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 battale. I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of king. Dryden.
2. To Confront impudently; to bully. I will neither be facednor braved. Shak.
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. He gained also with his forces that part of Britain which faces Ireland. Milton.
4. To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing upon; as, a building faced with marble.
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.
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.
7. (Mach.)
Defn: 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.
8. To cause to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction. 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
FACEFace, v. i.
1. To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite. "To lie, to face, to forge." Spenser.
2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left. Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid! Dryden.
3. To present a face or front.
FACEDFaced, a.
Defn: Having (such) a face, or (so many) faces; as, smooth-faced, two-faced.
FACERFa"cer, n.
1. One who faces; one who puts on a false show; a bold-faced person. [Obs.] There be no greater talkers, nor boasters, nor fasers. Latimer.
2. A blow in the face, as in boxing; hence, any severe or stunning check or defeat, as in controversy. [Collog.] I should have been a stercoraceous mendicant if I had hollowed when I got a facer. C. Kingsley.
FACETFac"et, n. Etym: [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.]
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A smooth circumscribed surface; as, the articular facet of a bone.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The narrow plane surface between flutings of a column.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the numerous small eyes which make up the compound eyes of insects and crustaceans.
FACETFac"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Faceted; p. pr. & vb. n. Faceting.]
Defn: To cut facets or small faces upon; as, to facet a diamond.
FACETE Fa*cete", a. Etym: [L. facetus elegant, fine, facetious; akin to facies. See Face, and cf. Facetious.]
Defn: Facetious; witty; humorous. [Archaic] "A facete discourse."Jer. Taylor."How to interpose" with a small, smart remark, sentiment facete, orunctuous anecdote. Prof. Wilson.— Fa*cete"ly, adv.— Fa*cete"ness, n.
FACETEDFac"et*ed, a.
Defn: Having facets.
FACETIAEFa*ce"ti*æ (, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. facetus. See Facete.]
Defn: Witty or humorous writings or saying; witticisms; merry conceits.
FACETIOUSFa*ce"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. facétieux. See Facetiæ.]
1. Given to wit and good humor; merry; sportive; jocular; as, a facetious companion.
2. Characterized by wit and pleasantry; exciting laughter; as, afacetious story or reply.— Fa*ce"tious*ly, adv.— Fa*ce"tious*ness, n.
FACETTEFa*cette", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Facet, n.
FACEWORKFace"work`, n.
Defn: The material of the outside or front side, as of a wall or building; facing.
FACIAFa"ci*a, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Fascia.
FACIALFa"cial, a. Etym: [LL. facialis, fr. L. facies face : cf. F. facial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the face; as, the facial artery, vein, or nerve. — Fa"cial*ly, adv. Facial angle (Anat.), the angle, in a skull, included between a straight line (ab, in the illustrations), from the most prominent part of the forehead to the front efge of the upper jaw bone, and another (cd) from this point to the center of the external auditory opening. See Gnathic index, under Gnathic.
FACIEND Fa"ci*end, n. Etym: [From neut. of L. faciendus, gerundive of facere to do.] (Mach.)
Defn: The multiplicand. See Facient,
2.
FACIENT Fa"cient, n. Etym: [L. faciens, — entis, p. pr. of facere to make, do. See Fact.]
1. One who does anything, good or bad; a doer; an agent. [Obs.] Br. Hacket.
2. (Mach.) (a) One of the variables of a quantic as distinguished from a coefficient. (b) The multiplier.
Note: The terms facient, faciend, and factum, may imply that the multiplication involved is not ordinary multiplication, but is either some specified operation, or, in general, any mathematical operation. See Multiplication.
FACIESFa"ci*es, n. Etym: [L., from, face. See Face.]
1. The anterior part of the head; the face.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The general aspect or habit of a species, or group of species, esp. with reference to its adaptation to its environment.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The face of a bird, or the front of the head, excluding the bill. Facies Hippocratica. (Med.) See Hippocratic.
FACILE Fac"ile a. Etym: [L. facilis, prop., capable of being done or made, hence, facile, easy, fr. facere to make, do: cf. F. facile. Srr Fact, and cf. Faculty.]
1. Easy to be done or performed: not difficult; performable or attainable with little labor. Order . . . will render the work facile and delightful. Evelyn.
2. Easy to be surmounted or removed; easily conquerable; readily mastered. The facile gates of hell too slightly barred. Milton.
3. Easy of access or converse; mild; courteous; not haughty, austere, or distant; affable; complaisant. I meant she should be courteous, facile, sweet. B. Jonson.
4. Easily persuaded to good or bad; yielding; ductile to a fault; pliant; flexible. Since Adam, and his facile consort Eve, Lost Paradise, deceived by me. Milton. This is treating Burns like a child, a person of so facile a disposition as not to be trusted without a keeper on the king's highway. Prof. Wilson.
5. Ready; quick; expert; as, he is facile in expedients; he wields afacile pen.— Fac"ile-ly, adv.— Fac"ile*ness, n.
FACILITATEFa*cil"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Facilitated; p. pr. & vb. n.Facilitating.] Etym: [Cf. F. faciliter. See Facility.]
Defn: To make easy or less difficult; to free from difficulty or impediment; to lessen the labor of; as, to facilitate the execution of a task. To invite and facilitate that line of proceeding which the times call for. I. Taylor.
FACILITATIONFa*cil`i*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of facilitating or making easy.
FACILITY Fa*cil"i*ty, n.; pl. Facilities. Etym: [L. facilitas, fr. facilis easy: cf. F. facilitFacile.]
1. The quality of being easily performed; freedom from difficulty; ease; as, the facility of an operation. The facility with which government has been overturned in France. Burke .
2. Ease in performance; readiness proceeding from skill or use; dexterity; as, practice gives a wonderful facility in executing works of art.
3. Easiness to be persuaded; readiness or compliance; — usually in a bad sense; pliancy. It is a great error to take facility for good nature. L'Estrange.
4. Easiness of access; complaisance; affability. Offers himself to the visits of a friend with facility. South.
5. That which promotes the ease of any action or course of conduct; advantage; aid; assistance; — usually in the plural; as, special facilities for study.
Syn. — Ease; expertness; readiness; dexterity; complaisance; condescension; affability. — Facility, Expertness, Readiness. These words have in common the idea of performing any act with ease and promptitude. Facility supposes a natural or acquired power of dispatching a task with lightness and ease. Expertness is the kind of facility acquired by long practice. Readiness marks the promptitude with which anything is done. A merchant needs great facility in dispatching business; a bunker, great expertness in casting accounts; both need great readiness in passing from one employment to another. "The facility which we get of doing things by a custom of doing, makes them often pass in us without our notice." Locke. "The army was celebrated for the expertness and valor of the soldiers." "A readiness obey the known will of God is the surest means to enlighten the mind in respect to duty."
FACINGFa"cing, n.
1. A covering in front, for ornament or other purpose; an exterior covering or sheathing; as, the facing of an earthen slope, sea wall, etc. , to strengthen it or to protect or adorn the exposed surface.
2. A lining placed near the edge of a garment for ornament or protection.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The finishing of any face of a wall with material different from that of which it is chiefly composed, or the coating or material so used.
4. (Founding)
Defn: A powdered substance, as charcoal, bituminous coal, ect., applied to the face of a mold, or mixed with the sand that forms it, to give a fine smooth surface to the casting.
5. (Mil.) (a) pl.
Defn: The collar and cuffs of a military coat; — commonly of a color different from that of the coat. (b) The movement of soldiers by turning on their heels to the right, left, or about; — chiefly in the pl. Facing brick, front or pressed brick.
FACINGLYFa"cing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a facing manner or position.
FACINOROUS Fa*cin"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. facinorous, from facinus deed, bad deed, from facere to make, do.]
Defn: Atrociously wicked. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.— Fa*cin"o*rous*ness, n. [Obs.]
FACOUNDFac"ound, n. Etym: [F. faconde, L. facundia. See Facund.]
Defn: Speech; eloquence. [Obs.]Her facound eke full womanly and plain. Chaucer.
FACSIMILE Fac*sim"i*le, n.; pl. Facsimiles (-l. Etym: [L. fac simile make like; or an abbreviation of factum simile made like; facere to make + similes like. See Fact, and Simile.]
Defn: A copy of anything made, either so as to be deceptive or so as to give every part and detail of the original; an exact copy or likeness. Facsimile telegraph, a telegraphic apparatus reproducing messages in autograph.
FACSIMILEFac*sim"i*le
Defn: , (
FACTFact, n. Etym: [L. factum, fr. facere to make or do. Cf. Feat,Affair, Benefit, Defect, Fashion, and -fy.]
1. A doing, making, or preparing. [Obs.] A project for the fact and vending Of a new kind of fucus, paint for ladies. B. Jonson.
2. An effect produced or achieved; anything done or that comes to pass; an act; an event; a circumstance. What might instigate him to this devilish fact, I am not able to conjecture. Evelyn. He who most excels in fact of arms. Milton.
3. Reality; actuality; truth; as, he, in fact, excelled all the rest; the fact is, he was beaten.
4. The assertion or statement of a thing done or existing; sometimes, even when false, improperly put, by a transfer of meaning, for the thing done, or supposed to be done; a thing supposed or asserted to be done; as, history abounds with false facts. I do not grant the fact. De Foe. This reasoning is founded upon a fact which is not true. Roger Long.
Note: TheTerm fact has in jurisprudence peculiar uses in contrast with low; as, attorney at low, and attorney in fact; issue in low, and issue in fact. There is also a grand distinction between low and fact with reference to the province of the judge and that of the jury, the latter generally determining the fact, the former the low. Burrill Bouvier. Accessary before, or after, the fact. See under Accessary. — Matter of fact, an actual occurrence; a verity; used adjectively: of or pertaining to facts; prosaic; unimaginative; as, a matter-of- fact narration.
Syn. — Act; deed; performance; event; incident; occurrence; circumstance.
FACTION Fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. factio a doing, a company of persons acting together, a faction: cf. F. faction See Fashion.]
1. (Anc. Hist.)
Defn: One of the divisions or parties of charioteers (distinguished by their colors) in the games of the circus.
2. A party, in political society, combined or acting in union, in opposition to the government, or state; — usually applied to a minority, but it may be applied to a majority; a combination or clique of partisans of any kind, acting for their own interests, especially if greedy, clamorous, and reckless of the common good.
3. Tumult; discord; dissension. They remained at Newbury in great faction among themselves. Clarendon.
Syn.— Combination; clique; junto. See Cabal.
FACTIONARY Fac"tion*a*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. factionnaire, L. factionarius the head of a company of charioteers.]
Defn: Belonging to a faction; being a partisan; taking sides. [Obs.]Always factionary on the party of your general. Shak.
FACTIONERFac"tion*er (-r), n.
Defn: One of a faction. Abp. Bancroft.
FACTIONISTFac"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who promotes faction.
FACTIOUSFac"tious. a. Etym: [L. factiosus: cf. F. factieux.]
1. Given to faction; addicted to form parties and raise dissensions, in opposition to government or the common good; turbulent; seditious; prone to clamor against public measures or men; — said of persons. Factious for the house of Lancaster. Shak.
2. Pertaining to faction; proceeding from faction; indicating, or characterized by, faction; — said of acts or expressions; as, factious quarrels. Headlong zeal or factious fury. Burke. — Fac"tious*ly, adv. — Fac"tious-ness, n.
FACTITIOUS Fac*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. factitius, fr. facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Fetich.]
Defn: Made by art, in distinction from what is produced by nature; artificial; sham; formed by, or adapted to, an artificial or conventional, in distinction from a natural, standard or rule; not natural; as, factitious cinnabar or jewels; a factitious taste. — Fac-ti"tious*ly, adv. — Fac*ti"tious-ness, n. He acquires a factitious propensity, he forms an incorrigible habit, of desultory reading. De Quincey.
Syn. — Unnatural. — Factitious, Unnatural. Anything is unnatural when it departs in any way from its simple or normal state; it is factitious when it is wrought out or wrought up by labor and effort, as, a factitious excitement. An unnatural demand for any article of merchandise is one which exceeds the ordinary rate of consumption; a factitious demand is one created by active exertions for the purpose. An unnatural alarm is one greater than the occasion requires; a factitious alarm is one wrought up with care and effort.
FACTITIVEFac"ti*tive. a. Etym: [See Fact.]
1. Causing; causative.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Pertaining to that relation which is proper when the act, as of a transitive verb, is not merely received by an object, but produces some change in the object, as when we say, He made the water wine. Sometimes the idea of activity in a verb or adjective involves in it a reference to an effect, in the way of causality, in the active voice on the immediate objects, and in the passive voice on the subject of such activity. This second object is called the factitive object. J. W. Gibbs.
FACTIVEFac"tive, a.
Defn: Making; having power to make. [Obs.] "You are . . . factive, not destructive." Bacon.
FACTOFac"to, adv. Etym: [L., ablative of factum deed, fact.] (Law)
Defn: In fact; by the act or fact. De facto. (Law) See De facto.
FACTORFac"tor, n. Etym: [L. factor a doer: cf. F. facteur a factor. SeeFact.]
1. (Law)
Defn: One who transacts business for another; an agent; a substitute; especially, a mercantile agent who buys and sells goods and transacts business for others in commission; a commission merchant or consignee. He may be a home factor or a foreign factor. He may buy and sell in his own name, and he is intrusted with the possession and control of the goods; and in these respects he differs from a broker. Story. Wharton. My factor sends me word, a merchant's fled That owes me for a hundred tun of wine. Marlowe.
2. A steward or bailiff of an estate. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
3. (Math.)
Defn: One of the elements or quantities which, when multiplied together, from a product.
4. One of the elements, circumstances, or influences which contribute to produce a result; a constituent. The materal and dynamical factors of nutrition. H. Spencer.
FACTORFac"tor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Factored (-trd); p. pr. & vb. n.Factoring.] (Mach.)
Defn: To resolve (a quantity) into its factors.
FACTORAGEFac"tor*age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. factorage.]
Defn: The allowance given to a factor, as a compensation for his services; — called also a commission.
FACTORESSFac"tor*ess, n.
Defn: A factor who is a woman. [R.]
FACTORIALFac*to"ri*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a factory. Buchanan.
2. (Math.)
Defn: Related to factorials.
FACTORIALFac*to"ri*al, n. (Math.) (a) pl.
Defn: A name given to the factors of a continued product when the former are derivable from one and the same function F(x) by successively imparting a constant increment or decrement h to the independent variable. Thus the product F(x).F(x + h).F(x + 2h) . . . F[x + (n-1)h] is called a factorial term, and its several factors take the name of factorials. Brande & C. (b) The product of the consecutive numbers from unity up to any given number.
FACTORINGFac"tor*ing, n. (Math.)
Defn: The act of resolving into factors.
FACTORIZE Fac"tor*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Factorized (-zd); p. pr. & vb. n. Factorizing (-"zng).] (Law) (a) To give warning to; — said of a person in whose hands the effects of another are attached, the warning being to the effect that he shall not pay the money or deliver the property of the defendant in his hands to him, but appear and answer the suit of the plaintiff. (b) To attach (the effects of a debtor) in the hands of a third person ; to garnish. See Garnish. [Vt. & Conn.]
FACTORSHIPFac"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The business of a factor.
FACTORYFac"to*ry, n.; pl. Factories (-r. Etym: [Cf. F. factorerie.]
1. A house or place where factors, or commercial agents, reside, to transact business for their employers. "The Company's factory at Madras." Burke.
2. The body of factors in any place; as, a chaplain to a British factory. W. Guthrie.
3. A building, or collection of buildings, appropriated to the manufacture of goods; the place where workmen are employed in fabricating goods, wares, or utensils; a manufactory; as, a cotton factory. Factory leg (Med.), a variety of bandy leg, associated with partial dislocation of the tibia, produced in young children by working in factories.
FACTOTUM Fac*to"tum, n.; pl. Factotums (-t. Etym: [L., do everything; facere to do + totus all : cf. F. factotum. See Fact, and Total.]
Defn: A person employed to do all kinds of work or business. B.Jonson.
FACTUALFac"tu*al, a.
Defn: Relating to, or containing, facts. [R.]
FACTUMFac"tum, n.; pl. Facta. Etym: [L. See Fact.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A man's own act and deed; particularly: (a) (Civil Law) Anything stated and made certain. (b) (Testamentary Law) The due execution of a will, including everything necessary to its validity.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: The product. See Facient, 2.
FACTURE Fac"ture, n. Etym: [F. facture a making, invoice, L. factura a making. See Fact.]
1. The act or manner of making or doing anything; — now used of a literary, musical, or pictorial production. Bacon.
2. (Com.)
Defn: An invoice or bill of parcels.
FACULAEFac"u*læ, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of facula a little torch.] (Astron.)
Defn: Groups of small shining spots on the surface of the sun which are brighter than the other parts of the photosphere. They are generally seen in the neighborhood of the dark spots, and are supposed to be elevated portions of the photosphere. Newcomb.
FACULARFac"u*lar a. (Astron.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the faculæ. R. A. Proctor.
FACULTATIVEFac"ul*ta*tive, a. [L. facultas, -atis, faculty: cf. F. facultatif,G. fakultativ.]
1. Having relation to the grant or exercise faculty, or authority, privilege, license, or the like hence, optional; as, facultative enactments, or those which convey a faculty, or permission; the facultative referendum of Switzerland is one that is optional with the people and is necessary only when demanded by petition; facultative studies; — opposed to obligatory and compulsory, and sometimes used with to.
2. Of such a character as to admit of existing under various forms or conditions, or of happening or not happening, or the like; specif.: (Biol.)
Defn: Having the power to live under different conditions; as, a facultative parasite, a plant which is normally saprophytic, but which may exist wholly or in part as a parasite; — opposed to obligate.
3. (Physiol.) Pertaining to a faculty or faculties.
In short, there is no facultative plurality in the mind; it is asingle organ of true judgment for all purposes, cognitive orpractical.J. Martineau.
FACULTY Fac"ul*ty, n.; pl. Faculties. Etym: [F. facult, L. facultas, fr. facilis easy (cf. facul easily), fr. fecere to make. See Fact, and cf. Facility.]
1. Ability to act or perform, whether inborn or cultivated; capacity for any natural function; especially, an original mental power or capacity for any of the well-known classes of mental activity; psychical or soul capacity; capacity for any of the leading kinds of soul activity, as knowledge, feeling, volition; intellectual endowment or gift; power; as, faculties of the mind or the soul. But know that in the soul Are many lesser faculties that serve Reason as chief. Milton. What a piece of work is a man ! how noble in reason ! how infinite in faculty ! Shak.
2. Special mental endowment; characteristic knack. He had a ready faculty, indeed, of escaping from any topic that agitated his too sensitive and nervous temperament. Hawthorne.
3. Power; prerogative or attribute of office. [R.] This Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek. Shak.
4. Privilege or permission, granted by favor or indulgence, to do a particular thing; authority; license; dispensation. The pope . . . granted him a faculty to set him free from his promise. Fuller. It had not only faculty to inspect all bishops' dioceses, but to change what laws and statutes they should think fit to alter among the colleges. Evelyn.
5. A body of a men to whom any specific right or privilege is granted; formerly, the graduates in any of the four departments of a university or college (Philosophy, Law, Medicine, or Theology), to whom was granted the right of teaching (profitendi or docendi) in the department in which they had studied; at present, the members of a profession itself; as, the medical faculty; the legal faculty, ect.
6. (Amer. Colleges)
Defn: The body of person to whom are intrusted the government and instruction of a college or university, or of one of its departments; the president, professors, and tutors in a college. Dean of faculty. See under Dean. — Faculty of advocates. (Scot.) See under Advocate.
Syn. — Talent; gift; endowment; dexterity; expertness; cleverness; readiness; ability; knack.
FACUNDFac"und, a. Etym: [L. facundus, fr. fari to speak.]
Defn: Eloquent. [Archaic]
FACUNDIOUSFa*cun"di*ous, a. Etym: [L. facundiosus.]
Defn: Eloquement; full of words. [Archaic]
FACUNDITYFa*cun"di*ty, n. Etym: [L. facunditas.]
Defn: Eloquence; readiness of speech. [Archaic]
FADFad, n. Etym: [Cf. Faddle.]
Defn: A hobby ; freak; whim.— Fad"dist, n.It is your favorite fad to draw plans. G. Eliot.
FADAISEFa`daise", n. [F.]
Defn: A vapid or meaningless remark; a commonplace; nonsense.
FADDLEFad"dle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Fiddle, Fiddle-faddle.]
Defn: To trifle; to toy.— v. t.
Defn: To fondle; to dandle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
FADE Fade a. Etym: [F., prob. fr. L. vapidus vapid, or possibly fr,fatuus foolish, insipid.]
Defn: Weak; insipid; tasteless; commonplace. [R.] "Passages that aresomewhat fade." Jeffrey.His masculine taste gave him a sense of something fade and ludicrous.De Quincey.
FADE Fade, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Faded; p. pr. & vb. n. Fading.] Etym: [OE. faden, vaden, prob. fr. fade, a.; cf. Prov. D. vadden to fade, wither, vaddigh languid, torpid. Cf. Fade, a., Vade.]
1. To become fade; to grow weak; to lose strength; to decay; to perish gradually; to wither, as a plant. The earth mourneth and fadeth away. Is. xxiv. 4.
2. To lose freshness, color, or brightness; to become faint in hue or tint; hence, to be wanting in color. "Flowers that never fade." Milton.
3. To sink away; to disappear gradually; to grow dim; to vanish. The stars shall fade away. Addison He makes a swanlike end, Fading in music. Shak.
FADEFade, v. t.
Defn: To cause to wither; to deprive of freshness or vigor; to wearaway.No winter could his laurels fade. Dryden.
FADEDFad"ed, a.
Defn: That has lost freshness, color, or brightness; grown dim. "Hisfaded cheek." Milton.Where the faded moon Made a dim silver twilight. Keats.
FADEDLYFad"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a faded manner.A dull room fadedly furnished. Dickens.
FADELESSFade"less, a.
Defn: Not liable to fade; unfading.
FADERFa"der, n.
Defn: Father. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FADGE Fadge, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OE. faden to flatter, and AS. f to join, unit, G. fügen, or AS. afægian to depict; all perh. form the same root as E. fair. Cf. Fair, a., Fay to fit.]
Defn: To fit; to suit; to agree.They shall be made, spite of antipathy, to fadge together. Milton.Well, Sir, how fadges the new design Wycherley.
FADGEFadge, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A small flat loaf or thick cake; also, a fagot. [Prov. Eng.]Halliwell.
FADINGFad"ing, a.
Defn: Losing freshness, color, brightness, or vigor.— n.
Defn: Loss of color, freshness, or vigor.— Fad"ing*ly, adv.— Fad"ing*ness, n.
FADINGFad"ing, n.
Defn: An Irish dance; also, the burden of a song. "Fading is a fine jig." [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
FADMEFad"me, n.
Defn: A fathom. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FADYFad"y, a.
Defn: Faded. [R.] Shenstone.
FAECALFæ"cal, a.
Defn: See Fecal.
FAECESFæ"ces, n.pl. Etym: [L. faex, pl. faeces, dregs.]
Defn: Excrement; ordure; also, settlings; sediment after infusion or distillation. [Written also feces.]
FAECULAFæc"u*la, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Fecula.
FAERYFa"ër*y, n. & a.
Defn: Fairy. [Archaic] Spenser.
FAFFLEFaf"fle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Famble, Maffle.]
Defn: To stammer. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
FAGFag n.
Defn: A knot or coarse part in cloth. [Obs.]
FAG Fag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Fagging.] Etym: [Cf. LG. fakk wearied, weary, vaak slumber, drowsiness, OFries. fai, equiv. to fach devoted to death, OS. f, OHG. feigi, G. feig, feige, cowardly, Icel. feigr fated to die, AS. f, Scot. faik, to fail, stop, lower the price; or perh. the same word as E. flag to droop.]
1. To become weary; to tire. Creighton withheld his force till the Italian began to fag. G. Mackenzie.
2. To labor to wearness; to work hard; to drudge. Read, fag, and subdue this chapter. Coleridge.
3. To act as a fag, or perform menial services or drudgery, for another, as in some English schools. To fag out, to become untwisted or frayed, as the end of a rope, or the edge of canvas.
FAGFag, v. t.
1. To tire by labor; to exhaust; as, he was almost fagged out.
2. Anything that fatigues. [R.] It is such a fag, I came back tired to death. Miss Austen. Brain fag. (Med.) See Cerebropathy.
FAGEND; FAG-ENDFag"*end", n.
1. An end of poorer quality, or in a spoiled condition, as the coarser end of a web of cloth, the untwisted end of a rope, ect.
2. The refuse or meaner part of anything. The fag-end of business. Collier.
FAGGINGFag"ging, n.
Defn: Laborious drudgery; esp., the acting as a drudge for another at an English school.
FAGOT Fag"ot n. Etym: [F., prob. aug. of L. fax, facis, torch, perh. orig., a bundle of sticks; cf. Gr. Fagotto.]
1. A bundle of sticks, twigs, or small branches of trees, used for fuel, for raising batteries, filling ditches, or other purposes in fortification; a fascine. Shak.
2. A bundle of pieces of wrought iron to be worked over into bars or other shapes by rolling or hammering at a welding heat; a pile.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: A bassoon. See Fagotto.
4. A person hired to take the place of another at the muster of a company. [Eng.] Addison.
5. An old shriveled woman. [Slang, Eng.] Fagot iron, iron, in bars or masses, manufactured from fagots. — Fagot vote, the vote of a person who has been constituted a voter by being made a landholder, for party purposes. [Political cant, Eng.]
FAGOTFag"ot v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fagoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fagoting.]
Defn: To make a fagot of; to bind together in a fagot or bundle; also, to collect promiscuously. Dryden.
FAGOTTOFa*got"to, n. Etym: [It. See Fagot.] (Mus.)
Defn: The bassoon; — so called from being divided into parts for ease of carriage, making, as it were, a small fagot.
FAHAMFa"ham, n.
Defn: The leaves of an orchid (Angraecum fragrans), of the islands of Bourbon and Mauritius, used (in France) as a substitute for Chinese tea.
FAHLBANDFahl"band`, n. Etym: [G., fr. fahl dun-colored + band a band.](Mining)
Defn: A stratum in crystalline rock, containing metallic sulphides.Raymond.
FAHLERZ; FAHLBAND Fahl"erz, Fahl"band, n. Etym: [G. fahlerz; fahl dun-colored, fallow + erz ore.] (Min.)
Defn: Same as Tetrahedrite.
FAHLUNITEFah"lun*ite, n. Etym: [From Falhun, a place in Sweden.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydration of iolite.
FAHRENHEITFah"ren*heit a. Etym: [G.]
Defn: Conforming to the scale used by Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit in the graduation of his thermometer; of or relating to Fahrenheit's thermometric scale. — n.
Defn: The Fahrenheit termometer or scale.
Note: The Fahrenheit thermometer is so graduated that the freezing point of water is at 32 degrees above the zero of its scale, and the boiling point at 212 degrees above. It is commonly used in the United States and in England.
FAIENCE Fa`ï*ence", n. Etym: [F., fr. Faenza, a town in Italy, the original place of manufacture.]
Defn: Glazed earthenware; esp., that which is decorated in color.
FAILFail v. i. [imp. & p. p. Failed; p. pr. & vb. n. Failing.] Etym: [F.failir, fr. L. fallere, falsum, to deceive, akin to E. fall. SeeFail, 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. As the waters fail from the sea. Job xiv. 11. Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign. Shak.
2. To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; — used with of. If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not be attributed to their size. Berke.
3. To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink. When earnestly they seek Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail. Milton.
4. To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails.
5. To perish; to die; — used of a person. [Obs.] Had the king in his last sickness failed. Shak.
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. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this. Ezra iv. 22. Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale. Shak.
7. To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired ; to be baffled or frusrated. Our envious foe hath failed. Milton.
8. To err in judgment; to be mistaken. Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps Shall grieve him, if I fail not. Milton.
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.
FAILFail, v. t.
1. To be wanting to ; to be insufficient for; to disappoint; to desert. There shall not fail thee a man on the throne. 1 Kings ii. 4.
2. To miss of attaining; to lose. [R.] Though that seat of earthly bliss be failed. Milton.
FAILFail, n. Etym: [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.
2. Death; decease. [Obs.] Shak.
FAILANCEFail"ance, n. Etym: [Of. faillance, fr. faillir.]
Defn: Fault; failure; omission. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.
FAILINGFail"ing, n.
1. A failing short; a becoming deficient; failure; deficiency; imperfection; weakness; lapse; fault; infirmity; as, a mental failing. And ever in her mind she cas about For that unnoticed failing in herself. Tennyson.
2. The act of becoming insolvent of bankrupt.
Syn.— See Fault.
FAILLEFaille, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A soft silk, heavier than a foulard and not glossy.
FAILUREFail"ure, n. Etym: [From Fail.]
1. Cessation of supply, or total defect; a failing; deficiency; as, failure of rain; failure of crops.
2. Omission; nonperformance; as, the failure to keep a promise.
3. Want of success; the state of having failed.
4. Decau, or defect from decay; deterioration; as, the failure of memory or of sight.
5. A becoming insolvent; bankruptcy; suspension of payment; as, failure in business.
6. A failing; a slight fault. [Obs.] Johnson.
FAIN Fain, a. Etym: [OE. fain, fagen, AS. fægen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel. faginn glad; AS. fægnian to rejoice, OS. faganon, Icel. fagna, Goth. faginon, cf. Goth. faheds 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. Men and birds are fain of climbing high. Shak. To a busy man, temptation is fainto climb up together with his business. Jer. Taylor.
2. Satisfied; contented; also, constrained. Shak. The learned Castalio was fain to make trechers at Basle to keep himself from starving. Locke.
FAINFain, adv.
Defn: With joy; gladly; — with wold.He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine dideat. Luke xv. 16.Fain Would I woo her, yet I dare not. Shak.
FAINFain, v. t. & i.
Defn: To be glad ; to wish or desire. [Obs.]Whoso fair thing does fain to see. Spencer.
FAINEANCE; FAINEANCYFai"ne*ance, Fai"ne*an*cy, n. [Cf. OF. faineance. See Fainéant.]
Defn: Do-nothingness; inactivity; indolence.
The mask of sneering faineance was gone.C. Kingsley.
FAINEANTFai`né`ant", a. Etym: [F.; fait he does + néant nothing.]
Defn: Doing nothing; shiftless.— n.
Defn: A do-nothing; an idle fellow; a sluggard. Sir W. Scott.
FAINEANT DEITYFainéant deity.
Defn: A deity recognized as real but conceived as not acting in human affairs, hence not worshiped.
FAINT Faint, a. [Compar. Fainter (-r); superl. Faintest.] Etym: [OE. faint, feint, false, faint, F. feint, p.p. of feindre to feign, suppose, hesitate. See Faign, and cf. Feint.]
1. Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.
2. Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed; as, "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Old Proverb.
3. Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound.
4. Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance. The faint prosecution of the war. Sir J. Davies.
FAINTFaint, n.
Defn: The act of fainting, or the state of one who has fainted; a swoon. [R.] See Fainting, n. The saint, Who propped the Virgin in her faint. Sir W. Scott.
FAINTFaint, 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. Hearing the honor intended her, she fainted away. Guardian. If I send them away fasting . . . they will faint by the way. Mark viii. 8.
2. To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Prov. xxiv. 10.
3. To decay; to disappear; to vanish. Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye. Pope.
FAINTFaint, v. t.
Defn: To cause to faint or become dispirited; to depress; to weaken.[Obs.]It faints me to think what follows. Shak.
FAINTHEARTED; FAINT-HEARTEDFaint"*heart`ed, a.
Defn: Wanting in courage; depressed by fear; easily discouraged orfrightened; cowardly; timorous; dejected.Fear not, neither be faint-hearted. Is. vii. 4.— Faint"*heart`ed*ly, adv.— Faint"*heart`ed*ness, n.
FAINTINGFaint"ing, n.
Defn: 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. Fainting fit, a fainting or swoon; syncope. [Colloq.]
FAINTISHFaint"ish, a.
Defn: Slightly faint; somewhat faint.— Faint"ish*ness, n.
FAINTLINGFaint"ling, a.
Defn: Timorous; feeble-minded. [Obs.] "A fainting, silly creature."Arbuthnot.
FAINTLYFaint"ly, adv.
Defn: In a faint, weak, or timidmanner.
FAINTNESSFaint"ness, n.
1. The state of being faint; loss of strength, or of consciousness, and self-control.