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Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - Contents
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    FAIRING — FANATICISM

    FAIRING, n. A present given at a fair.

    FAIRLY, adv.

    1. Beautifully; handsomely. [Little used.]NWAD FAIRLY.2

    2. Commodiously; conveniently; as a town fairly situated for foreign trade.NWAD FAIRLY.3

    3. Frankly; honestly; justly; equitably; without disguise, fraud or prevarication. The question was fairly stated and argued. Let us deal fairly with all men.NWAD FAIRLY.4

    4. Openly; ingenuously; plainly. Let us deal fairly with ourselves or our own hearts.NWAD FAIRLY.5

    5. Candidly.NWAD FAIRLY.6

    I interpret fairly your design.NWAD FAIRLY.7

    6. Without perversion or violence; as, an inference may be fairly deduced from the premises.NWAD FAIRLY.8

    7. Without blots; in plain letters; plainly; legibly; as an instrument or record fairly written.NWAD FAIRLY.9

    8. Completely; without deficience. His antagonist fought till he was fairly defeated.NWAD FAIRLY.10

    9. Softly; gently.NWAD FAIRLY.11

    FAIRNESS, n.

    1. Clearness; freedom from spots or blemishes; whiteness; as the fairness of skin or complexion.NWAD FAIRNESS.2

    2. Clearness; purity; as the fairness of water.NWAD FAIRNESS.3

    3. Freedom from stain or blemish; as the fairness of character or reputation.NWAD FAIRNESS.4

    4. Beauty; elegance; as the fairness of form.NWAD FAIRNESS.5

    5. Frankness; candor; hence, honesty; ingenuousness; as fairness in trade.NWAD FAIRNESS.6

    6. Openness; candor; freedom from disguise, insidiousness or prevarication; as the fairness of an argument.NWAD FAIRNESS.7

    7. Equality of terms; equity; as the fairness of a contract.NWAD FAIRNESS.8

    8. Distinctness; freedom from blots or obscurity; as the fairness of hand-writing; the fairness of a copy.NWAD FAIRNESS.9

    FAIR-SPOKEN, a. Using fair speech; bland; civil; courteous; plausible.

    Arius, a fair-spoken man.NWAD FAIR-SPOKEN.2

    FAIRY, n.

    [The origin of this word is not obvious, and the radical letters are uncertain. the conjectures of Baxter, Jamieson and others throw no satisfactory light on the subject.]NWAD FAIRY.2

    1. A fay; an imaginary being or spirit, supposed to assume a human form, dance in meadows, steal infants and play a variety of pranks. [See Elf and Demon.]NWAD FAIRY.3

    2. An enchantress.NWAD FAIRY.4

    Fairy of the mine, an imaginary being supposed to inhabit mines, wandering about in the drifts and chambers, always employed in cutting ore, turning the windlass, etc., yet effecting nothing. The Germans believe in two species; one fierce and malevolent; the other gentle. [See Cobalt.]NWAD FAIRY.5

    Fairy ring or circle, a phenomenon observed in fields, vulgarly supposed to be caused by fairies in their dances. This circle is of two kinds; one about seven yards in diameter, containing a round bare path, a foot broad, with green grass in the middle; the other of different size, encompassed with grass.NWAD FAIRY.6

    FAIRY, a.

    1. Belonging to fairies; as fairy landNWAD FAIRY.8

    2. Given by fairies; as fairy money or favors.NWAD FAIRY.9

    FAIRYLIKE, a. Imitating the manner of fairies.

    FAIRYSTONE, n. A stone found in gravel pits.

    The fossil echinite, abundant in chalk pits.NWAD FAIRYSTONE.2

    FAITH, n. [L. fides, fido, to trust; Gr. to persuade, to draw towards any thing, to conciliate; to believe, to obey. In the Greek Lexicon of Hederic it is said, the primitive signification of the verb is to bind and draw or lead, as signifies a rope or cable. But this remark is a little incorrect. The sense of the verb, from which that of rope and binding is derived, is to strain, to draw, and thus to bind or make fast. A rope or cable is that which makes fast. Heb.]

    1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth. I have strong faith or no faith in the testimony of a witness, or in what a historian narrates.NWAD FAITH.2

    2. The assent of the mind to the truth of a proposition advanced by another; belief, or probable evidence of any kind.NWAD FAITH.3

    3. In theology, the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the scriptures, of the being and perfections of God, and of the existence, character and doctrines of Christ, founded on the testimony of the sacred writers, is called historical or speculative faith; a faith little distinguished from the belief of the existence and achievements of Alexander or of Cesar.NWAD FAITH.4

    4. Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God’s testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God’s character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God’s testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation.NWAD FAITH.5

    Being justified by faith. Romans 5:1.NWAD FAITH.6

    Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6.NWAD FAITH.7

    For we walk by faith, and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7.NWAD FAITH.8

    With the heart man believeth to righteousness. Romans 10:10.NWAD FAITH.9

    The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind, which is called trust or confidence, exercised towards the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior.NWAD FAITH.10

    Faith is an affectionate practical confidence in the testimony of God.NWAD FAITH.11

    Faith is an affectionate practical confidence in the testimony of God.NWAD FAITH.12

    Faith is a firm, cordial belief in the veracity of God, in all the declarations of his word; or a full and affectionate confidence in the certainty of those things which God has declared, and because he has declared them.NWAD FAITH.13

    5. The object of belief; a doctrine or system of doctrines believed; a system of revealed truths received by christians.NWAD FAITH.14

    They heard only, that he who persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. Galatians 1:23.NWAD FAITH.15

    6. The promises of God, or his truth and faithfulness.NWAD FAITH.16

    Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Romans 3:3.NWAD FAITH.17

    7. An open profession of gospel truth.NWAD FAITH.18

    Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Romans 1:8.NWAD FAITH.19

    8. A persuasion or belief of the lawfulness of things indifferent.NWAD FAITH.20

    Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Romans 14:22.NWAD FAITH.21

    9. Faithfulness; fidelity; a strict adherence to duty and fulfillment of promises.NWAD FAITH.22

    Her failing, while her faith to me remains, I would conceal.NWAD FAITH.23

    Children in whom is no faith. Deuteronomy 32:20.NWAD FAITH.24

    10. Word or honor pledged; promise given; fidelity. He violated his plighted faith.NWAD FAITH.25

    For you alone I broke my faith with injured Palamon.NWAD FAITH.26

    11. Sincerity; honesty; veracity; faithfulness. We ought in good faith, to fulfill all our engagements.NWAD FAITH.27

    12. Credibility or truth. [Unusual.]NWAD FAITH.28

    The faith of the foregoing narrative.NWAD FAITH.29

    FAITH-BREACH, n. Breach of fidelity; disloyalty; perfidy.

    FAITHED, a. Honest; sincere. [Not used.]

    FAITHFUL, a.

    1. Firm in adherence to the truth and to the duties of religion.NWAD FAITHFUL.2

    Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10.NWAD FAITHFUL.3

    2. Firmly adhering to duty; of true fidelity; loyal; true to allegiance; as a faithful subject.NWAD FAITHFUL.4

    3. constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands; as a faithful servant.NWAD FAITHFUL.5

    4. Observant of compact, treaties, contracts, vows or other engagements; true to one’s word. A government should be faithful to its treaties; individuals, to their word.NWAD FAITHFUL.6

    5. True; exact; in conformity to the letter and spirit; as a faithful execution of a will.NWAD FAITHFUL.7

    6. True to the marriage covenant; as a faithful wife or husband.NWAD FAITHFUL.8

    7. Conformable to truth; as a faithful narrative or representation.NWAD FAITHFUL.9

    8. Constant; not fickle; as a faithful lover or friend.NWAD FAITHFUL.10

    9. True; worthy of belief. 2 Timothy 2:11.NWAD FAITHFUL.11

    FAITHFULLY, adv.

    1. In a faithful manner; with good faith.NWAD FAITHFULLY.2

    2. With strict adherence to allegiance and duty; applied to subjects.NWAD FAITHFULLY.3

    3. With strict observance of promises, vows, covenants or duties; without failure of performance; honestly; exactly. The treaty or contract was faithfully executed.NWAD FAITHFULLY.4

    4. Sincerely; with strong assurances; he faithfully promised.NWAD FAITHFULLY.5

    5. Honestly; truly; without defect, fraud, trick or ambiguity. The battle was faithfully described or represented.NWAD FAITHFULLY.6

    They suppose the nature of things to be faithfully signified by their names.NWAD FAITHFULLY.7

    6. Confidently; steadily.NWAD FAITHFULLY.8

    FAITHFULNESS, n.

    1. Fidelity; loyalty; firm adherence to allegiance and duty; as the faithfulness of a subject.NWAD FAITHFULNESS.2

    2. Truth; veracity; as the faithfulness of God.NWAD FAITHFULNESS.3

    3. Strict adherence to injunctions, and to the duties of a station; as the faithfulness of servants or ministers.NWAD FAITHFULNESS.4

    4. Strict performance of promises, vows or covenants; constancy in affection; as the faithfulness of a husband or wife.NWAD FAITHFULNESS.5

    FAITHLESS, a.

    1. Without belief in the revealed truths of religion; unbelieving.NWAD FAITHLESS.2

    O faithless generation. Matthew 17:17.NWAD FAITHLESS.3

    2. Not believing; not giving credit to.NWAD FAITHLESS.4

    3. Not adhering to allegiance or duty; disloyal; perfidious; treacherous; as a faithless subject.NWAD FAITHLESS.5

    4. Not true to a master or employer; neglectful; as a faithless servant.NWAD FAITHLESS.6

    5. Not true to the marriage covenant; false; as a faithless husband or wife.NWAD FAITHLESS.7

    6. Not observant of promises.NWAD FAITHLESS.8

    7. Deceptive.NWAD FAITHLESS.9

    Yonder faithless phantom.NWAD FAITHLESS.10

    FAITHLESSNESS, n.

    1. Unbelief, as to revealed religion.NWAD FAITHLESSNESS.2

    2. Perfidy; treachery; disloyalty; as in subjects.NWAD FAITHLESSNESS.3

    3. Violation of promises or covenants; inconstancy; as of husband or wife.NWAD FAITHLESSNESS.4

    FAITOUR, n. [L. factor.] An evildoer; a scoundrel; a mean fellow. Obs.

    FAKE, n.

    One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies in a coil; a single turn.NWAD FAKE.2

    FAKIR, FAQUIR, n.

    A monk in India. The fakirs subject themselves to severe austerities and mortifications. Some of them condemn themselves to a standing posture all their lives, supported only by a stick or rope under their arm-pits. Some mangle their bodies with scourges or knives. Others wander about in companies, telling fortunes, and these are said to be arrant villains.NWAD FAKIR.2

    FALCADE, n. [L. falx, a sickle or sythe.]

    A horse is said to make a falcade, when he throws himself on his haunches two or three times, as in very quick curvets; that is a falcade is a bending very low.NWAD FALCADE.2

    FALCATE, FALCATED, a. [L. falcatus, from faix, a sickly, sythe or reaping hook.]

    Hooked; bent like a sickle or sythe; an epithet applied to the new moon.NWAD FALCATE.2

    FALCATION, n. Crookedness; a bending in the form of a sickle.

    FALCHION, n. fal’chun. a is pronounced as in fall. [L. falx, a reaping hook.]

    A short crooked sword; a cimiter.NWAD FALCHION.2

    FALCIFORM, a. [L. falx, a reaping hook, and form.]

    In the shape of a sickle; resembling a reaping hook.NWAD FALCIFORM.2

    FALCON, n. Sometimes pron. fawcon. [L. falco, a hawk. The falcon is probably so named from its curving beak or talons.]

    1. A hawk; but appropriately, a hawk trained to sport, as in falconry, which see. It is said that this name is, by sportsmen, given to the female alone; for the male is smaller, weaker and less courageous, and is therefore called tircelet or tarsel.NWAD FALCON.2

    This term, in ornithology, is applied to a division of the genus Falco, with a short hooked beak and very long wings, the strongest armed and most courageous species, and therefore used in falconry.NWAD FALCON.3

    2. A sort of cannon, whose diameter at the bore is five inches and a quarter, and carrying shot of two pounds and a half.NWAD FALCON.4

    FALCONER, n. A person who breeds and trains hawks for taking wild fowls; one who follows the sport of fowling with hawks.

    FALCONET, n. A small cannon or piece of ordinance, whose diameter at the bore is four inches and a quarter, and carrying shot of one pound and a quarter.

    FALCONRY, n. [L. falco, a hawk.]

    1. The art of training hawks to the exercise of hawking.NWAD FALCONRY.2

    2. The practice of taking wild fowls by means of hawks.NWAD FALCONRY.3

    FALDAGE, n. a as in all. [Low L. faldagium.]

    In England, a privilege which anciently several lords reserved to themselves of setting up folds for sheep, in any fields within their manors, the better to manure them.NWAD FALDAGE.2

    FALDFEE, n. A fee or composition paid anciently by tenants for the privilege of faldage.

    FALDING, n. A kind of course cloth. Obs.

    FALDSTOOL, n. [fald or fold and stool.]

    1. A kind of stool placed at the south side of the altar, at which the kings of England kneel at their coronation.NWAD FALDSTOOL.2

    2. The chair of a bishop inclosed by the railing of the altar.NWAD FALDSTOOL.3

    3. An arm-chair or folding chair.NWAD FALDSTOOL.4

    FALL, v.i. pret. fell; pp. fallen. [L. fallo, to fail, to deceive, Gr.; Heb. to fall. Fail agrees better with Heb., but these words may have had one primitive root, the sense of which was to move, to recede, to pass. See Foul.]

    1. To drop from a higher place; to descend by the power of gravity alone. Rain falls from the clouds; a man falls from his horse; ripe fruits fall from trees; an ox falls into a pit.NWAD FALL.2

    I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Luke 10:18.NWAD FALL.3

    2. To drop from an erect posture.NWAD FALL.4

    I fell at his feet to worship him. Revelation 19:10.NWAD FALL.5

    3. To disembogue; to pass at the outlet; to flow out of its channel into a pond, lake or sea, as a river. The Rhone falls into the Mediterranean sea. The Danube falls into the Euxine. The Mississippi falls into the gulf of Mexico.NWAD FALL.6

    4. To depart from the faith, or from rectitude; to apostatize. Adam fell by eating the forbidden fruit.NWAD FALL.7

    Labor to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:11.NWAD FALL.8

    5. To die; particularly by violence.NWAD FALL.9

    Ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. Leviticus 26:7.NWAD FALL.10

    A thousand shall fall at thy side. Psalm 91:7.NWAD FALL.11

    6. To come to an end suddenly; to vanish; to perish.NWAD FALL.12

    The greatness of these Irish lords suddenly fell and vanished.NWAD FALL.13

    7. To be degraded; to sink into disrepute or disgrace; to be plunged into misery; as, to fall from an elevated station, or from a prosperous state.NWAD FALL.14

    8. To decline in power, wealth or glory; to sink into weakness; to be overthrown or ruined. This is the renowned Tyre; but oh, how fallen.NWAD FALL.15

    Heaven and earth will witness, if Rome must fall, that we are innocent.NWAD FALL.16

    9. To pass into a worse state than the former; to come; as, to fall into difficulties; to fall under censure of imputation; to fall into error or absurdity; to fall into a snare. In these and similar phrases, the sense of suddenness, accident or ignorance is often implied; but not always.NWAD FALL.17

    10. To sink; to be lowered. The mercury in a thermometer rises and falls with the increase and diminution of heat. The water of a river rises and falls. The tide falls.NWAD FALL.18

    11. To decrease; to be diminished in weight or value. The price of goods falls with plenty and rises with scarcity. Pliny tells us, the as fell from a pound to two ounces in the first Punic war.NWAD FALL.19

    12. To sink; not to amount to the full.NWAD FALL.20

    The greatness of finances and revenue doth fall under computation.NWAD FALL.21

    13. To be rejected; to sink into disrepute.NWAD FALL.22

    This book must stand or fall with thee.NWAD FALL.23

    14. To decline from violence to calmness from intensity to remission. The wind falls and a calm succeeds.NWAD FALL.24

    At length her fury fell.NWAD FALL.25

    15. To pass into a new state of body or mind; to become; as, to fall asleep; to fall distracted; to fall sick; to fall into rage or passion; to fall in love; to fall into temptation.NWAD FALL.26

    16. To sink into an air of dejection, discontent, anger, sorrow or shame; applied to the countenance or look.NWAD FALL.27

    Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Genesis 4:5.NWAD FALL.28

    I have observed of late thy looks are fallen.NWAD FALL.29

    17. To happen; to befall; to come.NWAD FALL.30

    Since this fortune falls to you.NWAD FALL.31

    18. To light on; to come by chance.NWAD FALL.32

    The Romans fell on this model by chance.NWAD FALL.33

    19. To come; to rush on; to assail.NWAD FALL.34

    Fear and dread shall fall on them. Exodus 15:16.NWAD FALL.35

    And fear fell on them all. Acts 19:17.NWAD FALL.36

    20. To come; to arrive.NWAD FALL.37

    The vernal equinox, which at the Nicene council fell on the 21st of March, falls now about ten days sooner.NWAD FALL.38

    21. To come unexpectedly.NWAD FALL.39

    It happened this evening that we fell into a pleasing walk.NWAD FALL.40

    22. To begin with haste, ardor or vehemence; to rush or hurry to. They fell to blows.NWAD FALL.41

    The mixt multitude fell to lusting. Numbers 11:4.NWAD FALL.42

    23. To pass or be transferred by chance, lot, distribution, inheritance or otherwise, as possession or property. The estate or the province fell to his brother. The kingdom fell into the hands of his rival. A large estate fell to his heirs.NWAD FALL.43

    24. To become the property of; to belong or appertain to.NWAD FALL.44

    If to her share some female errors fall.NWAD FALL.45

    Look in her face; and you’ll forget them all.NWAD FALL.46

    25. To be dropped or uttered carelessly. Some expressions fell from him. An unguarded expression fell from his lips. Not a word fell from him on the subject.NWAD FALL.47

    26. To sink; to languish; to become feeble or faint. Our hopes and fears rise and fall with good or ill success.NWAD FALL.48

    27. To be brought forth. Take care of lambs when they first fall.NWAD FALL.49

    28. To issue; to terminate.NWAD FALL.50

    Sit still, my daughter, till thou knowest how the matter will fall. Ruth 3:18.NWAD FALL.51

    To fall aboard of, to strike against another ship.NWAD FALL.52

    To fall astern, to move or be driven backward; or to remain behind. A ship falls astern by the force of a current, or when outsailed by another.NWAD FALL.53

    1. To fall away, to lose flesh; to become lean or emaciated; to pine.NWAD FALL.54

    2. To renounce or desert allegiance; to revolt or rebel.NWAD FALL.55

    3. To renounce or desert the faith; to apostatize; to sink into wickedness.NWAD FALL.56

    These for awhile believe, and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:13.NWAD FALL.57

    4. To perish; to be ruined; to be lost.NWAD FALL.58

    How can the soul - fall away into nothing.NWAD FALL.59

    5. To decline gradually; to fade; to languish, or become faint.NWAD FALL.60

    One color falls away by just degrees, and another rises insensibly.NWAD FALL.61

    1. To fall back, to recede; to give way.NWAD FALL.62

    2. To fail of performing a promise or purpose; not to fulfill.NWAD FALL.63

    To fall calm, to cease to blow; to become calm.NWAD FALL.64

    1. To fall down, to prostrate one’s self in worship.NWAD FALL.65

    All nations shall fall down before him. Psalm 72:11.NWAD FALL.66

    2. To sink; to come to the ground.NWAD FALL.67

    Down fell the beauteous youth.NWAD FALL.68

    3. To bend or bow as a suppliant. Isaiah 45:14.NWAD FALL.69

    4. To sail or pass towards the mouth of a river, or other outlet.NWAD FALL.70

    To fall foul, to attack; to make an assault.NWAD FALL.71

    1. To fall from, to recede from; to depart; not to adhere; as, to fall from an agreement or engagement.NWAD FALL.72

    2. To depart from allegiance or duty; to revolt.NWAD FALL.73

    1. To fall in, to concur; to agree with. The measure falls in with popular opinion.NWAD FALL.74

    2. To comply; to yield to.NWAD FALL.75

    You will find it difficult to persuade learned men to fall in with your projects.NWAD FALL.76

    3. To come in; to join; to enter. Fall into the ranks; fall in on the right.NWAD FALL.77

    To fall in with, to meet, as a ship; also, to discover or come near, as land.NWAD FALL.78

    1. To fall off, to withdraw; to separate; to be broken or detached. friends fall off in adversity.NWAD FALL.79

    Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide.NWAD FALL.80

    2. To perish; to die away. Words fall off by disuse.NWAD FALL.81

    3. To apostatize; to forsake; to withdraw from the faith, or from allegiance or duty.NWAD FALL.82

    Those captive tribes fell off from God to worship calves.NWAD FALL.83

    4. To forsake; to abandon. His subscribers fell off.NWAD FALL.84

    5. To drop. Fruits fall off when ripe.NWAD FALL.85

    6. To depreciate; to depart from former excellence; to become less valuable or interesting. The magazine or the review falls off; it has fallen off.NWAD FALL.86

    7. To deviate or depart from the course directed, or to which the head of the ship was before directed; to fall to leeward.NWAD FALL.87

    1. To fall on, to begin suddenly and eagerly.NWAD FALL.88

    Fall on, and try thy appetite to eat.NWAD FALL.89

    2. To begin an attack; to assault; to assail.NWAD FALL.90

    Fall on, fall on and hear him not.NWAD FALL.91

    3. To drop on; to descend on.NWAD FALL.92

    1. To fall out, to quarrel; to begin to contend.NWAD FALL.93

    A soul exasperated in ills, falls out with every thing, its friend, itself -NWAD FALL.94

    2. To happen; to befall; to chance.NWAD FALL.95

    There fell out a bloody quarrel betwixt the frogs and the mice.NWAD FALL.96

    1. To fall over, to revolt; to desert from one side to another.NWAD FALL.97

    2. To fall beyond.NWAD FALL.98

    To fall short, to be deficient. The corn falls short. We all fall short in duty.NWAD FALL.99

    1. To fall to, to begin hastily and eagerly.NWAD FALL.100

    Fall to, with eager joy, on homely food.NWAD FALL.101

    2. To apply one’s self to. He will never after fall to labor.NWAD FALL.102

    They fell to raising money, under pretense of the relief of Ireland.NWAD FALL.103

    1. To fall under, to come under, or within the limits of; to be subjected to. They fell under the jurisdiction of the emperor.NWAD FALL.104

    2. To come under; to become the subject of. This point did not fall under the cognizance or deliberations of the court. These things do not fall under human sight or observation.NWAD FALL.105

    3. To come within; to be ranged or reckoned with. These substances fall under a different class or order.NWAD FALL.106

    1. To upon, to attack. [See to fall on.]NWAD FALL.107

    2. To rush against.NWAD FALL.108

    Fall primarily denotes descending motion, either in a perpendicular or inclined direction, and in most of its applications, implies literally or figuratively velocity, haste, suddenness or violence. Its use is so various and so much diversified by modifying words, that it is not easy to enumerate its senses in all its applications.NWAD FALL.109

    FALL, v.t.

    1. To let fall; to drop. And fall thy edgeless sword. I am willing to fall this argument.NWAD FALL.111

    [This application is obsolete.]NWAD FALL.112

    2. To sink; to depress; as, to raise or fall the voice.NWAD FALL.113

    3. To diminish; to lessen or lower; as, to fall the price of commodities. [Little used.]NWAD FALL.114

    4. To bring forth; as, to fall lambs. [Little used.]NWAD FALL.115

    5. To fell; to cut down; as, to fall a tree. [This use is now common in America, and fell and fall are probably from a common root.]NWAD FALL.116

    FALL, n.

    1. The act of dropping or descending from a higher to a lower place by gravity; descent; as a fall from a horse or from the yard of a ship.NWAD FALL.118

    2. The act of dropping or tumbling from an erect posture. he was walking on ice and had a fall.NWAD FALL.119

    3. Death; destruction; overthrow.NWAD FALL.120

    Our fathers had a great fall before our enemies.NWAD FALL.121

    4. Ruin; destruction.NWAD FALL.122

    They conspire thy fall.NWAD FALL.123

    5. Downfall; degradation; loss of greatness or office; as the fall of Cardinal Wolsey.NWAD FALL.124

    Behold thee glorious only in thy fall.NWAD FALL.125

    6. Declension of greatness, power or dominion; ruin; as the fall of the Roman empire.NWAD FALL.126

    7. Diminution; decrease of price or value; depreciation; as the fall of prices; the fall of rents; the fall of interest.NWAD FALL.127

    8. Declination of sound; a sinking of tone; cadence; as the fall of the voice at the close of a sentence.NWAD FALL.128

    9. Declivity; the descent of land or a hill; a slope.NWAD FALL.129

    10. Descent of water; a cascade; a cataract; a rush of water down a steep place; usually in the plural; sometimes in the singular; as the falls of Niagara, or the Mohawk; the fall of the Hoosatonuc at Canaan. Fall is applied to a perpendicular descent, or to one that is very steep. When the descent is moderate, we name it rapids. Custom, however, sometimes deviates from this rule, and the rapids of rivers are called falls.NWAD FALL.130

    11. The outlet or discharge of a river or current of water into the ocean, or into a lake or pond; as the fall of the Po into the gulf of Venice.NWAD FALL.131

    12. Extent of descent; the distance which any thing falls; as, the water of a pond has a fall of five feet.NWAD FALL.132

    13. The fall of the leaf; the season when leaves fall from trees; autumn.NWAD FALL.133

    14. That which falls; a falling; as a fall of rain or snow.NWAD FALL.134

    15. The act of felling or cutting down; as the fall of timber.NWAD FALL.135

    16. Fall, or the fall, by way of distinction, the apostasy; the act of our first parents in eating the forbidden fruit; also, the apostasy of the rebellious angels.NWAD FALL.136

    17. Formerly, a kind of vail.NWAD FALL.137

    18. In seamen’s language, the loose end of a tackle.NWAD FALL.138

    19. In Great Britain, a term applied to several measures, linear, superficial and solid.NWAD FALL.139

    FALLACIOUS, a. [L. fallax, from fallo, to deceive. See Fail.]

    1. Deceptive; deceiving; deceitful; wearing a false appearance; misleading; producing error or mistake; sophistical; applied to things only; as a fallacious argument or proposition; a fallacious appearance.NWAD FALLACIOUS.2

    2. Deceitful; false; not well founded; producing disappointment; mocking expectation; as a fallacious hope.NWAD FALLACIOUS.3

    FALLACIOUSLY, adv. In a fallacious manner; deceitfully; sophistical; with purpose or in a manner to deceive.

    We have seen how fallaciously the author has stated the cause.NWAD FALLACIOUSLY.2

    FALLACIOUSNESS, n. Tendency to deceive or mislead; inconclusiveness; as the fallaciousness of an argument, or of appearances.

    FALLACY, n. [L. fallacia.]

    1. Deceptive or false appearance; deceitfulness; that which misleads the eye or the mind. Detect the fallacy of the argument.NWAD FALLACY.2

    2. Deception; mistake. This appearance may be all a fallacy.NWAD FALLACY.3

    I’ll entertain the favored fallacy.NWAD FALLACY.4

    FALLEN, pp. or a. Dropped; descended; degraded; decreased; ruined.

    FALLENCY, n. Mistake. Obs.

    FALLER, n. One that falls.

    FALLIBILITY, n. [See Fallible.]

    1. Liableness to deceive; the quality of being fallible; uncertainty; possibility of being erroneous, or of leading to mistake; as the fallibility of an argument, of reasoning or of testimony.NWAD FALLIBILITY.2

    2. Liableness to err or to be deceived in one’s own judgment; as the fallibility of men.NWAD FALLIBILITY.3

    FALLIBLE, a. [L. fallo, to deceive.]

    1. Liable to fail or mistake; that may err or be deceived in judgment. All men are fallible.NWAD FALLIBLE.2

    2. Liable to error; that may deceive. Our judgments, our faculties, our opinions are fallible; our hopes are fallible.NWAD FALLIBLE.3

    FALLING, ppr. Descending; dropping; disemboguing; apostatizing; declining; decreasing; sinking; coming.

    FALLING, FALLINGIN, n. An indenting or hollow; opposed to rising or prominence.

    Falling away, apostasy.NWAD FALLING.3

    Falling off, departure from the line or course; declension.NWAD FALLING.4

    FALLING-SICKNESS, n. The epilepsy; a disease in which the patient suddenly loses his senses and falls.

    FALLING-STAR, n. A luminous meteor, suddenly appearing and darting through the air.

    FALLING-STONE, n. A stone falling from the atmosphere; a meteorite; an aerolite.

    FALLOW, a. [L. fulvus; qu. helvus, for felvus. This word may be from the root of fail, fallo; so called from the fading color of autumnal leaves, or from failure, withering. Hence also the sense of unoccupied, applied to land.]

    1. Pale red or pale yellow; as a fallow deer.NWAD FALLOW.2

    2. Unsowed; not tilled; left to rest after a year or more of tillage; as fallow ground; a fallow field.NWAD FALLOW.3

    Break up your fallow ground. Jeremiah 4:3.NWAD FALLOW.4

    3. Left unsowed after plowing. The word is applied to the land after plowing.NWAD FALLOW.5

    4. Unplowed; uncultivated.NWAD FALLOW.6

    5. Unoccupied; neglected. [Not in use.]NWAD FALLOW.7

    Let the cause lie fallow.NWAD FALLOW.8

    FALLOW, n.

    1. Land that has lain a year or more untilled or unseeded. It is also called fallow when plowed without being sowed.NWAD FALLOW.10

    The plowing of fallows is a benefit to land.NWAD FALLOW.11

    2. The plowing or tilling of land, without sowing it, for a season. Summer fallow, properly conducted, has ever been found a sure method of destroying weeds.NWAD FALLOW.12

    By a complete summer fallow, land is rendered tender and mellow. The fallow gives it a better tilth, than can be given by a fallow crop.NWAD FALLOW.13

    A green fallow, in England, is that where land is rendered mellow and clean from weeks, by means of some green crop, as turnips, potatoes, etc.NWAD FALLOW.14

    FALLOW, v.i. To fade; to become yellow. Obs.

    FALLOW, v.t. To plow, harrow and break land without seeding it, for the purpose of destroying weeds and insects, and rendering it mellow. It is found for the interest of the farmer to fallow cold, strong, clayey land.

    FALLOW-CROP, n. The crop taken from fallowed ground.

    FALLOWED, pp. Plowed and harrowed for a season, without being sown.

    FALLOW-FINCH, n. A small bird, the oenanthe or wheat-ear.

    FALLOWING, ppr. Plowing and harrowing land without sowing it.

    FALLOWING, n. The operation of plowing and harrowing land without sowing it. Fallowing is found to contribute to the destruction of snails and other vermin.

    FALLOWIST, n. One who favors the practice of fallowing land.

    On this subject, a controversy has arisen between two sects, the fallowists and the anti-fallowists. [Unusual.]NWAD FALLOWIST.2

    FALLOWNESS, n. A fallow state; barrenness; exemption from bearing fruit.

    FALSARY, n. [See False.] A falsifier of evidence. [Not in use.]

    FALSE, a. [L. falsus, from fallo, to deceive. See Fall and Fail.]

    1. Not true; not conformable to fact; expressing what is contrary to that which exists, is done, said or thought. A false report communicates what is not done or said. A false accusation imputes to a person what he has not done or said. A false witness testifies what is not true. A false opinion is not according to truth or fact. The word is applicable to any subject, physical or moral.NWAD FALSE.2

    2. Not well founded; as a false claim.NWAD FALSE.3

    3. Not true; not according to the lawful standard; as a false weight or measure.NWAD FALSE.4

    4. Substituted for another; succedaneous; supposititious; as a false bottom.NWAD FALSE.5

    5. Counterfeit; forged; not genuine; as false coin; a false bill or note.NWAD FALSE.6

    6. Not solid or sound; deceiving expectations; as a false foundationNWAD FALSE.7

    False and slippery ground.NWAD FALSE.8

    7. Not agreeable to rule or propriety; as false construction in language.NWAD FALSE.9

    8. Not honest or just; not fair; as false play.NWAD FALSE.10

    9. Not faithful or loyal; treacherous; perfidious; deceitful. The king’s subjects may prove false to him. So we say, a false heart.NWAD FALSE.11

    10. Unfaithful; inconstant; as a false friend; a false lover; false to promises and vows.NWAD FALSE.12

    The husband and wife proved false to each other.NWAD FALSE.13

    11. Deceitful; treacherous; betraying secrets.NWAD FALSE.14

    12. Counterfeit; not genuine or real; as a false diamond.NWAD FALSE.15

    13. Hypocritical; feigned; made or assumed for the purpose of deception; as false tears; false modesty. The man appears in false colors. The advocate gave the subject a false coloring.NWAD FALSE.16

    False fire, a blue flame, made by the burning of certain combustibles, in a wooden tube; used as a signal during the night.NWAD FALSE.17

    False imprisonment, the arrest and imprisonment of a person without warrant or cause, or contrary to law; or the unlawful detaining of a person in custody.NWAD FALSE.18

    FALSE, adv. Not truly; not honestly; falsely.

    FALSE, v.t.

    1. To violate by failure of veracity; to deceive. Obs.NWAD FALSE.21

    2. To defeat; to balk; to evade. Obs.NWAD FALSE.22

    FALSE-HEART, FALSE-HEARTED, a. Hollow; treacherous; deceitful; perfidious. [The former is not used.]

    FALSE-HEARTEDNESS, n. Perfidiousness; treachery.

    FALSEHOOD, n. fols’hood. [false and hood.]

    1. Contrariety or inconformity to fact or truth; as the falsehood of a report.NWAD FALSEHOOD.2

    2. Want of truth or veracity; a lie; an untrue assertion.NWAD FALSEHOOD.3

    3. Want of honesty; treachery; deceitfulness; perfidy.NWAD FALSEHOOD.4

    But falsehood is properly applied to things only. [See Falseness.]NWAD FALSEHOOD.5

    4. Counterfeit; false appearance; imposture.NWAD FALSEHOOD.6

    FALSELY, adv. fols’ly.

    1. In a manner contrary to truth and fact; not truly; as, to speak or swear falsely; to testify falsely.NWAD FALSELY.2

    2. Treacherously; perfidiously.NWAD FALSELY.3

    Swear to me - that thou wilt not deal falsely with me. Genesis 21:23.NWAD FALSELY.4

    3. Erroneously; by mistake.NWAD FALSELY.5

    FALSENESS, n. fols’ness.

    1. Want of integrity and veracity, either in principle or in act; as the falseness of a man’s heart, or his falseness to his word.NWAD FALSENESS.2

    2. Duplicity; deceit; double-dealing.NWAD FALSENESS.3

    3. Unfaithfulness; treachery; perfidy; traitorousness.NWAD FALSENESS.4

    The prince is in no danger of being betrayed by the falseness, or cheated by the avarice of such a servant.NWAD FALSENESS.5

    FALSER, n. A deceiver.

    FALSETTO, n. A feigned voice.

    FALSIFIABLE, a. [from falsify.] That may be falsified, counterfeited or corrupted.

    FALSIFICATION, n.

    1. The act of making false; a counterfeiting; the giving to a thing an appearance of something which it is not; as the falsification of words.NWAD FALSIFICATION.2

    2. Confutation.NWAD FALSIFICATION.3

    FALSIFICATOR, n. A falsifier.

    FALSIFIED, pp. Counterfeited.

    FALSIFIER, n.

    1. One who counterfeits, or gives to a thing a deceptive appearance; or one who makes false coin.NWAD FALSIFIER.2

    2. One who invents falsehood; a liar.NWAD FALSIFIER.3

    3. One who proves a thing to be false.NWAD FALSIFIER.4

    FALSIFY, v.t.

    1. To counterfeit; to forge; to make something false, or in imitation of that which is true; as, to falsify coin.NWAD FALSIFY.2

    The Irish bards use to falsify every thing.NWAD FALSIFY.3

    2. To disprove; to prove to be false; as, to falsify a record.NWAD FALSIFY.4

    3. To violate; to break by falsehood; as, to falsify one’s faith or word.NWAD FALSIFY.5

    4. To show to be unsound, insufficient or not proof. [Not in use.]NWAD FALSIFY.6

    His ample shield is falsified.NWAD FALSIFY.7

    FALSIFY, v.i. To tell lies; to violate the truth.

    It is universally unlawful to lie and falsify.NWAD FALSIFY.9

    FALSIFYING, ppr. Counterfeiting; forging; lying; proving to be false; violating.

    FALSITY, n. [L. falsitas.]

    1. Contrariety or inconformity to truth; the quality of being false.NWAD FALSITY.2

    Probability does not make any alteration, either in the truth or falsity of things.NWAD FALSITY.3

    2. Falsehood; a lie; a false assertion. [This sense is less proper.]NWAD FALSITY.4

    FALTER, v.i. [L. fallo, the primary sense of which is to fall short, or to err, to miss, to deviate.]

    1. To hesitate, fail or break in the utterance of words; to speak with a broken or trembling utterance; to stammer. His tongue falters. He speaks with a faltering tongue. He falters at the question.NWAD FALTER.2

    2. To fail, tremble or yield in exertion; not to be firm and steady. His legs falter.NWAD FALTER.3

    3. To fail in the regular exercise of the understanding. We observe idiots to falter.NWAD FALTER.4

    FALTER, v.t. To sift. [Not in use.]

    FALTERING, ppr. Hesitating; speaking with a feeble, broken, trembling utterance; failing.

    FALTERING, n. Feebleness; deficiency.

    FALTERINGLY, adv. With hesitation; with a trembling, broken voice; with difficulty or feebleness.

    FAME, n. [L. fama; Gr. from to speak.]

    1. Public report or rumor.NWAD FAME.2

    The fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come. Genesis 45:16.NWAD FAME.3

    2. Favorable report; report of good or great actions; report that exalts the character; celebrity; renown; as the fame of Howard or of Washington; the fame of Solomon.NWAD FAME.4

    And the fame of Jesus went throughout all Syria. Matthew 4:24.NWAD FAME.5

    FAME, v.t.

    1. To make famous.NWAD FAME.7

    2. To report.NWAD FAME.8

    FAMED, a. Much talked of; renowned; celebrated; distinguished and exalted by favorable reports. Aristides was famed for learning and wisdom, and Cicero for eloquence.

    He is famed for mildness, peace and prayer.NWAD FAMED.2

    FAME-GIVING, a. Bestowing fame.

    FAMELESS, a. Without renown.

    FAMILIAR, a. famil’yar. [L. familiaris, familia, family, which see.]

    1. Pertaining to a family; domestic.NWAD FAMILIAR.2

    2. Accustomed by frequent converse; well acquainted with; intimate; close; as a familiar friend or companion.NWAD FAMILIAR.3

    3. Affable; not formal or distant; easy in conversation.NWAD FAMILIAR.4

    Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.NWAD FAMILIAR.5

    4. Well acquainted with; knowing by frequent use. Be familiar with the scriptures.NWAD FAMILIAR.6

    5. Well known; learned or well understood by frequent use. Let the scriptures be familiar to us.NWAD FAMILIAR.7

    6. Unceremonious; free; unconstrained; easy. The emperor conversed with the gentleman in the most familiar manner.NWAD FAMILIAR.8

    7. Common; frequent and intimate. By familiar intercourse, strong attachments are soon formed.NWAD FAMILIAR.9

    8. Easy; unconstrained; not formal. His letters are written in a familiar style.NWAD FAMILIAR.10

    He sports in loose familiar strains.NWAD FAMILIAR.11

    9. Intimate in an unlawful degree.NWAD FAMILIAR.12

    A poor man found a priest familiar with his wife.NWAD FAMILIAR.13

    FAMILIAR, n.

    1. An intimate; a close companion; one long acquainted; one accustomed to another by free, unreserved converse.NWAD FAMILIAR.15

    All my familiars watched for my halting. Jeremiah 20:10.NWAD FAMILIAR.16

    2. A demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at a call. But in general we say, a familiar spirit.NWAD FAMILIAR.17

    3. In the court of Inquisition, a person who assists in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.NWAD FAMILIAR.18

    FAMILIARITY, n.

    1. Intimate and frequent converse, or association in company. The gentlemen lived in remarkable familiarity. Hence,NWAD FAMILIARITY.2

    2. Easiness of conversation; affability; freedom from ceremony.NWAD FAMILIARITY.3

    3. Intimacy; intimate acquaintance; unconstrained intercourse.NWAD FAMILIARITY.4

    FAMILIARIZE, v.t.

    1. To make familiar or intimate; to habituate; to accustom; to make well known, by practice or converse; as, to familiarize one’s self to scenes of distress.NWAD FAMILIARIZE.2

    2. To make easy by practice or customary use, or by intercourse.NWAD FAMILIARIZE.3

    3. To bring down from a state of distant superiority.NWAD FAMILIARIZE.4

    The genius smiled on me with a look of compassion and affability that familiarized him to my imagination.NWAD FAMILIARIZE.5

    FAMILIARIZED, pp. Accustomed; habituated; made easy by practice, custom or use.

    FAMILIARIZING, ppr. Accustoming; rendering easy by practice, custom or use.

    FAMILIARLY, adv.

    1. In a familiar manner; unceremoniously; without constraint; without formality.NWAD FAMILIARLY.2

    2. Commonly; frequently; with the ease and unconcern that arises from long custom or acquaintance.NWAD FAMILIARLY.3

    FAMILISM, n. The tenets of the familists.

    FAMILIST, n. [from family.] One of the religious sect called the family of love.

    FAMILY, n. [L. familia.]

    1. The collective body of persons who live in one house and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children and servants, and as the case may be, lodgers or boarders.NWAD FAMILY.2

    2. Those who descend from one common progenitor; a tribe or race; kindred; lineage. Thus the Israelites were a branch of the family of Abraham; and the descendants of Reuben, of Manasseh, etc., were called their families. The whole human race are the family of Adam, the human family.NWAD FAMILY.3

    3. Course of descent; genealogy; line of ancestors.NWAD FAMILY.4

    Go and complain thy family is young.NWAD FAMILY.5

    4. Honorable descent; noble or respectable stock. He is a man of family.NWAD FAMILY.6

    5. A collection or union of nations or states.NWAD FAMILY.7

    The states of Europe were, by the prevailing maxims of its policy, closely united in one family.NWAD FAMILY.8

    6. In popular language, an order, class or genus of animals or of other natural productions, having something in common, by which they are distinguished from others; as, quadrupeds constitute a family of animals, and we speak of the family or families of plants.NWAD FAMILY.9

    FAMINE, n. [L. fames.]

    1. Scarcity of food; dearth; a general want of provisions sufficient for the inhabitants of a country or besieged place.NWAD FAMINE.2

    There was a famine in the land. Genesis 26:1.NWAD FAMINE.3

    2. Want; destitution; as a famine of the word of life.NWAD FAMINE.4

    FAMISH, v.t. [L. fames.]

    1. To starve; to kill or destroy with hunger.NWAD FAMISH.2

    2. To exhaust the strength of, by hunger or thirst; to distress with hunger.NWAD FAMISH.3

    The pains of famished Tantalus he’ll feel.NWAD FAMISH.4

    3. To kill by deprivation or denial of any thing necessary for life.NWAD FAMISH.5

    FAMISH, v.i.

    1. To die of hunger. More generally,NWAD FAMISH.7

    2. To suffer extreme hunger or thirst; to be exhausted in strength, or to come near to perish, for want of food or drink.NWAD FAMISH.8

    You are all resolved rather to die, than to famish.NWAD FAMISH.9

    3. To be distressed with want; to come near to perish by destitution.NWAD FAMISH.10

    The Lord will not suffer the righteous to famish. Proverbs 10:3.NWAD FAMISH.11

    FAMISHED, pp. Starved; exhausted by want of sustenance.

    FAMISHING, ppr. Starving; killing; perishing by want of food.

    FAMISHMENT, n. The pain of extreme hunger or thirst; extreme want of sustenance.

    FAMOUS, a. [L. famosus. See Fame.]

    1. Celebrated in fame or public report; renowned; much talked of and praised; distinguished in story.NWAD FAMOUS.2

    Two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation. Numbers 16:2.NWAD FAMOUS.3

    It is followed by for. One man is famous for erudition; another, for eloquence; and another, for military skill.NWAD FAMOUS.4

    2. sometimes in a bad sense; as a famous counterfeiter; a famous pirate.NWAD FAMOUS.5

    FAMOUSED, a. Renowned. [An ill formed word.]

    FAMOUSLY, adv. With great renown or celebration.

    Then this land was famously enriched with politic grave counsel.NWAD FAMOUSLY.2

    FAMOUSNESS, n. Renown; great fame; celebrity.

    FAN, n. [L. vannus.]

    1. An instrument used by ladies to agitate the air and cool the face in warm weather. It is made of feathers, or of thin skin, paper or taffety mounted on sticks, etc.NWAD FAN.2

    2. Something in the form of a woman’s fan when spread, as a peacoc’s tail, a window, etc.NWAD FAN.3

    3. An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is thrown up and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away.NWAD FAN.4

    4. something by which the air is moved; a wing.NWAD FAN.5

    5. An instrument to raise the fire or flame; as a fan to inflame love.NWAD FAN.6

    FAN-LIGHT, n. A window in form of an open fan.

    FAN, v.t.

    1. To cool and refresh, by moving the air with a fan; to blow the air on the face with a fan.NWAD FAN.2

    2. To ventilate; to blow on; to affect by air put in motion.NWAD FAN.3

    The fanning wind upon her bosom blows;NWAD FAN.4

    To meet the fanning wind the bosom rose.NWAD FAN.5

    Calm as the breath which fans our eastern groves.NWAD FAN.6

    3. To move as with a fan.NWAD FAN.7

    The air - fanned with plumes.NWAD FAN.8

    4. To winnow; to ventilate; to separate chaff from grain and drive it away by a current of air; as, to fan wheat.NWAD FAN.9

    FANATIC, FANATICAL, a. [L. fanaticus, phanaticus.]

    Wild and extravagant in opinions, particularly in religious opinions; excessively enthusiastic; possessed by a kind of frenzy. Hence we say, fanatic zeal; fanatic notions or opinions.NWAD FANATIC.2

    FANATIC, FANATICAL, n. A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant notions of religion, and sometimes exhibits strange motions and postures, and vehement vociferation in religious worship. Fanatics sometimes affect to be inspired or to have intercourse with superior beings.

    FANATICALLY, adv. With wild enthusiasm.

    FANATICALNESS, n. Fanaticism.

    FANATICISM, n. Excessive enthusiasm; wild and extravagant notions of religion; religious frenzy.

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