fair English · revision 3228

+ English has two words spelled ''fair'': the adjective, from Old English fæger “beautiful”, and the market or festival, from Latin fēriae “holidays”.^(AHD 2000)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /feə/, US /fer/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|beautiful; just}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 900, Alfred|origins=gem-pro *fagraz}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[inh|enm|feier]], fair,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|fæger|t=beautiful, pleasant]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*fagraz]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) the source also of Old Saxon and Old High German fagar “beautiful”, Old Norse fagr and Gothic fagrs “fitting”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Watkins traces it to [[ine-pro|*pek-|t=to make pretty]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source also of Lithuanian puošiu “I decorate”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[fain]] and to [[fawn]] “to cringe”.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Pleasing to the eye, beautiful”: before 900, in Alfred's translation of Boethius,^(Barnhart 1988) or about 888.^(OED 1989) In Old English it also described fair weather, “bright, clear”, and in late Old English it meant “morally good”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The weather sense keeps the oldest meaning, “suitable, agreeable”.^(Etymonline) In early use the opposite of fair was often [[foul]], as in ''by fair means or foul'', ''fair play'' and ''foul play''.^(Cresswell 2021) “Free from moral stain” is from about 1175,^(Barnhart 1988) and “light in complexion or hair”, contrasted with brown, from before 1175 or about 1200, reflecting tastes in beauty;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) lightness and beauty were closely connected in Germanic.^(Barnhart 1988) “According with justice” is from the early 13th century, and “impartial, equitable, free from bias” from the mid-14th century (about 1340).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) “Above average, considerable” is from about 1300, and “comparatively good, moderate” from 1860.^(Etymonline) ''Fair play'', “upright conduct”, is first recorded in Shakespeare's ''King John'' (1595).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Of handwriting, “neat”, it is from the 1690s,^(Etymonline) hence ''fair copy''.^(Cresswell 2021) ''The fair sex'' is from the 17th century.^(Cresswell 2021) Sporting senses such as ''fair ball'' are from 1856,^(Etymonline) and ''fair-haired'', “favourite”, from 1909.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 900 – beautiful.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1175 – unblemished.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – light in complexion.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 13th century – just, proper.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1340 – impartial.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1595 – ''fair play''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1690s – of handwriting, neat.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1856 – sporting senses.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1860 – fairly good.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Treating people equally; [[just]] and [[impartial]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # In accordance with the rules: ''a fair fight''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Light in colour: ''fair hair''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of weather, clear and sunny.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Fairly good; average: ''a fair chance''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Considerable in size or amount: ''a fair distance''.^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(archaic, literary)'' Beautiful.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In a fair way: ''play fair''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Directly; straight.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fairly]]

+ * [[fairness]]

+ * [[unfair]]

+ * [[fair-minded]]

+ * [[fair play]]

+ * [[fairway]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|market, festival}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1250|origins=la fēriae}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The market is [[inh|enm|feire]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) [[bor|xno|feyre]], Old French feire, faire “fair, market; feast day” (modern French foire),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-vul|*fēria|t=holiday, market fair]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the singular of [[la|fēriae|t=religious festivals, holidays]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(COED 2004) on which fairs were often held.^(COED 2004)^(Cresswell 2021) Latin fēriae is related to festus “festive” and to [[feast]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A regular gathering for buying and selling: about 1250^(Barnhart 1988) or the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''A day after the fair'', “too late”, is from 1548.^(OED 1989) A sale of goods to raise money for charity is from 1876,^(OED 1989) and the ''fun of the fair'' from 1852.^(OED 1989) ''Fairground'' is from 1855.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – a market fair.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1548 – ''a day after the fair''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1855 – ''fairground''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1876 – a charity fair.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A gathering with stalls and amusements; a [[funfair]].^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021)

+ # A regular gathering for buying and selling goods or animals; a [[market]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # An exhibition of products: ''a trade fair''.^(AHD)

+ # An event held to raise money for a cause.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fairground]]

+ * [[funfair]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fain]]

+ * [[foul]]

+ * [[feast]]

+ * [[festival]]

+ * [[holiday]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}