Chapter IV: Part 4

2. To cause to hold together or to something else; to attach or unite firmly; to cause to cleave to something , or to cleave together, by any means; as, to fasten boards together with nails or cords; to fasten anything in our thoughts.

The words Whig and Tory have been pressed to the service of many
successions of parties, with very different ideas fastened to them.

Swift.

3. To cause to take close effect; to make to tell; to lay on; as, to fasten a blow. [Obs.] Dryden.

If I can fasten but one cup upon him.

Shak.

To fasten a charge, or a crime, upon, to make his guilt certain, or so probable as to be generally believed. -- To fasten one's eyes upon, to look upon steadily without cessation. Acts iii. 4.

Syn. -- To fix; cement; stick; link; affix; annex.

Fas"ten, v. i. To fix one's self; to take firm hold; to clinch; to cling.

A horse leech will hardly fasten on a fish.

Sir T. Browne.

Fas"ten*er (?), n. One who, or that which, makes fast or firm.

Fas"ten*ing (?), n. Anything that binds and makes fast, as a lock, catch, bolt, bar, buckle, etc.

Fast"er (?), n. One who abstains from food.

Fast"-hand`ed (?), a. Close- handed; close-fisted; covetous; avaricious. [Obs.] Bacon.

||Fas"ti (?), n. pl. [L.] 1. The Roman calendar, which gave the days ||for festivals, courts, etc., corresponding to a modern almanac.

2. Records or registers of important events.

Fas*tid`i*os"i*ty (?), n. Fastidiousness; squeamishness. [Obs.] Swift.

Fas*tid"i*ous (?), a. [L. fastidiosus disdainful, fr. fastidium loathing, aversion, perh. fr. fastus arrogance (of uncertain origin) + taedium loathing. Cf. Tedious, Fash.] Difficult to please; delicate to a fault; suited with difficulty; squeamish; as, a fastidious mind or ear; a fastidious appetite.

Proud youth ! fastidious of the lower world.

Young.

Syn. -- Squeamish; critical; overnice; difficult; punctilious. -- Fastidious, Squeamish. We call a person fastidious when his taste or feelings are offended by trifling defects or errors; we call him squeamish when he is excessively nice or critical on minor points, and also when he is overscrupulous as to questions of duty. "Whoever examines his own imperfections will cease to be fastidious; whoever restrains his caprice and scrupulosity will cease to be squeamish." Crabb.

-- Fas*tid"i*ous*ly, adv. -- Fas*tid"i*ous*ness, n.

{ Fas*tig"i*ate (?), Fas*tig"i*a`ted (?), } a. [L. fastigium gable end, top, height, summit.] 1. Narrowing towards the top.

2. (Bot.) Clustered, parallel, and upright, as the branches of the Lombardy poplar; pointed.

3. (Zoˆl.) United into a conical bundle, or into a bundle with an enlarged head, like a sheaf of wheat.

Fast"ish (?), a. Rather fast; also, somewhat dissipated. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

Fast"ly, adv. Firmly; surely.

Fast"ness, n. [AS. fÊstnes, fr. fÊst fast. See Fast, a.] 1. The state of being fast and firm; firmness; fixedness; security; faithfulness.

All . . . places of fastness [are] laid open.

Sir J. Davies.

2. A fast place; a stronghold; a fortress or fort; a secure retreat; a castle; as, the enemy retired to their fastnesses in the mountains.

3. Conciseness of style. [Obs.] Ascham.

4. The state of being fast or swift.

Fas"tu*ous (?), a. [L. fastuosus, from fastus haughtiness, pride: cf. F. fastueux.] Proud; haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Barrow. -- Fas"tu*ous*ness, n. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Fat (?), n. [See Vat, n.] 1. A large tub, cistern, or vessel; a vat. [Obs.]

The fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Joel ii. 24.

2. A measure of quantity, differing for different commodities. [Obs.] Hebert.

Fat, a. [Compar. Fatter (?); superl. Fattest (?).] [AS. ftt; akin to D. vet, G. fett, feist, Icel. feitr, Sw. fet, Dan. fed, and perh. to Gr. pi^dax spring, fountain, pidy`ein to gush forth, pi`wn fat, Skr. pi to swell.] 1. Abounding with fat; as: (a) Fleshy; characterized by fatness; plump; corpulent; not lean; as, a fat man; a fat ox. (b) Oily; greasy; unctuous; rich; -- said of food.

2. Exhibiting the qualities of a fat animal; coarse; heavy; gross; dull; stupid.

Making our western wits fat and mean.

Emerson.

Make the heart of this people fat.

Is. vi. 10.

3. Fertile; productive; as, a fat soil; a fat pasture.

4. Rich; producing a large income; desirable; as, a fat benefice; a fat office; a fat job.

Now parson of Troston, a fat living in Suffolk.

Carlyle.

5. Abounding in riches; affluent; fortunate. [Obs.]

Persons grown fat and wealthy by long impostures.

Swift.

6. (Typog.) Of a character which enables the compositor to make large wages; -- said of matter containing blank, cuts, or many leads, etc.; as, a fat take; a fat page.

Fat lute, a mixture of pipe clay and oil for filling joints.

Fat (?), n. 1. (Physiol. Chem.) An oily liquid or greasy substance making up the main bulk of the adipose tissue of animals, and widely distributed in the seeds of plants. See Adipose tissue, under Adipose.

Animal fats are composed mainly of three distinct fats, tristearin, tripalmitin, and triolein, mixed in varying proportions. As olein is liquid at ordinary temperatures, while the other two fats are solid, it follows that the consistency or hardness of fats depends upon the relative proportion of the three individual fats. During the life of an animal, the fat is mainly in a liquid state in the fat cells, owing to the solubility of the two solid fats in the more liquid olein at the body temperature. Chemically, fats are composed of fatty acid, as stearic, palmitic, oleic, etc., united with glyceryl. In butter fat, olein and palmitin predominate, mixed with another fat characteristic of butter, butyrin. In the vegetable kingdom many other fats or glycerides are to be found, as myristin from nutmegs, a glyceride of lauric acid in the fat of the bay tree, etc.

2. The best or richest productions; the best part; as, to live on the fat of the land.

3. (Typog.) Work. containing much blank, or its equivalent, and, therefore, profitable to the compositor.

Fat acid. (Chem.) See Sebacic acid, under Sebacic. -- Fat series, Fatty series (Chem.), the series of the paraffine hydrocarbons and their derivatives; the marsh gas or methane series. -- Natural fats (Chem.), the group of oily substances of natural occurrence, as butter, lard, tallow, etc., as distinguished from certain fatlike substance of artificial production, as paraffin. Most natural fats are essentially mixtures of triglycerides of fatty acids.

Fat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fatted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. atting (?).] [OE. fatten, AS. fttian. See Fat, a., and cf. Fatten.] To make fat; to fatten; to make plump and fleshy with abundant food; as, to fat fowls or sheep.

We fat all creatures else to fat us.

Shak.

Fat, v. i. To grow fat, plump, and fleshy.

An old ox fats as well, and is as good, as a young one.

Mortimer.

Fa"tal, a. [L. fatalis, fr. fatum: cf. F. fatal. See Fate.] 1. Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny; necessary; inevitable. [R.]

These thing are fatal and necessary.

Tillotson.

It was fatal to the king to fight for his money.

Bacon.

2. Foreboding death or great disaster. [R.]

That fatal screech owl to our house That nothing sung but death to
us and ours.

Shak.

3. Causing death or destruction; deadly; mortal; destructive; calamitous; as, a fatal wound; a fatal disease; a fatal day; a fatal error.

Fa"tal*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. fatalisme.] The doctrine that all things are subject to fate, or that they take place by inevitable necessity.

Fa"tal*ist (?), n. [Cf. F. fataliste.] One who maintains that all things happen by inevitable necessity.

Fa`tal*is"tic (?), a. Implying, or partaking of the nature of, fatalism.

Fa*tal"i*ty (?), n.;pl. Fatalities (#). [L. fatalitas: cf. F. fatalitÈ] 1. The state of being fatal, or proceeding from destiny; invincible necessity, superior to, and independent of, free and rational control.

The Stoics held a fatality, and a fixed, unalterable course of
events.

South.

2. The state of being fatal; tendency to destruction or danger, as if by decree of fate; mortaility.

The year sixty-three is conceived to carry with it the most
considerable fatality.

Ser T. Browne.

By a strange fatality men suffer their dissenting.

Eikon Basilike.

3. That which is decreed by fate or which is fatal; a fatal event. Dryden.

Fa"tal*ly (?), adv. 1. In a manner proceeding from, or determined by, fate. Bentley.

2. In a manner issuing in death or ruin; mortally; destructively; as, fatally deceived or wounded.

Fa"tal*ness, n. Quality of being fatal. Johnson.

||Fa"ta Mor*ga"na (?). [It.; -- so called because this phenomenon was ||looked upon as the work of a fairy (It. fata) of the name of Morg·na. ||See Fairy.] A kind of mirage by which distant objects appear ||inverted, distorted, displaced, or multiplied. It is noticed ||particularly at the Straits of Messina, between Calabria and Sicily.

Fat"back` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The menhaden.

Fat"-brained` (?), a. Dull of apprehension.

Fate (?), n. [L. fatum a prophetic declaration, oracle, what is ordained by the gods, destiny, fate, fr. fari to speak: cf. OF. fat. See Fame, Fable, Ban, and cf. 1st Fay, Fairy.] 1. A fixed decree by which the order of things is prescribed; the immutable law of the universe; inevitable necessity; the force by which all existence is determined and conditioned.

Necessity and chance Approach not me; and what I will is fate.

Milton.

Beyond and above the Olympian gods lay the silent, brooding,
everlasting fate of which victim and tyrant were alike the
instruments.

Froude.

2. Appointed lot; allotted life; arranged or predetermined event; destiny; especially, the final lot; doom; ruin; death.

The great, th'important day, big with the fate Of Cato and of Rome.

Addison.

Our wills and fates do so contrary run That our devices still are
overthrown.

Shak.

The whizzing arrow sings, And bears thy fate, Antinous, on its
wings.

Pope.

3. The element of chance in the affairs of life; the unforeseen and unestimated conitions considered as a force shaping events; fortune; esp., opposing circumstances against which it is useless to struggle; as, fate was, or the fates were, against him.

A brave man struggling in the storms of fate.

Pope.

Sometimes an hour of Fate's serenest weather strikes through our
changeful sky its coming beams.

B. Taylor.

4. pl. [L. Fata, pl. of fatum.] (Myth.) The three goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, sometimes called the Destinies, or ParcÊwho were supposed to determine the course of human life. They are represented, one as holding the distaff, a second as spinning, and the third as cutting off the thread.

Among all nations it has been common to speak of fate or destiny as a power superior to gods and men -- swaying all things irresistibly. This may be called the fate of poets and mythologists. Philosophical fate is the sum of the laws of the universe, the product of eternal intelligence and the blind properties of matter. Theological fate represents Deity as above the laws of nature, and ordaining all things according to his will -- the expression of that will being the law. Krauth- Fleming.

Syn. -- Destiny; lot; doom; fortune; chance.

Fat"ed (?), p. p. & a. 1. Decreed by fate; destined; doomed; as, he was fated to rule a factious people.

One midnight Fated to the purpose.

Shak.

2. Invested with the power of determining destiny. [Obs.] "The fated sky." Shak.

3. Exempted by fate. [Obs. or R.] Dryden.

Fate"ful (?), a. . Having the power of serving or accomplishing fate. "The fateful steel." J. Barlow.

2. Significant of fate; ominous.

The fateful cawings of the crow.

Longfellow.

-- Fate"ful*ly, adv.- Fate"ful*ness, n.

Fat"head` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) A cyprinoid fish of the Mississippi valley (Pimephales promelas); -- called also black-headed minnow. (b) A labroid food fish of California; the redfish.

Fa"ther (f‰"r), n. [OE. fader, AS. fÊder; akin to OS. fadar, D. vader, OHG. fatar, G. vater, Icel. fair Sw. & Dan. fader, OIr. athir, L. pater, Gr. path`r, Skr. pitr, perh. fr. Skr. p protect. √75, 247. Cf. Papa, Paternal, Patriot, Potential, Pablum.] 1. One who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a generator; a male parent.

A wise son maketh a glad father.

Prov. x. 1.

2. A male ancestor more remote than a parent; a progenitor; especially, a first ancestor; a founder of a race or family; -- in the plural, fathers, ancestors.

David slept with his fathers.

1 Kings ii. 10.

Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Rom. iv. 16.

3. One who performs the offices of a parent by maintenance, affetionate care, counsel, or protection.

I was a father to the poor.

Job xxix. 16.

He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house.

Gen. xiv. 8.

4. A respectful mode of address to an old man.

And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him [Elisha], . . . and
said, O my father, my father!

2 Kings xiii. 14.

5. A senator of ancient Rome.

6. A dignitary of the church, a superior of a convent, a confessor (called also father confessor), or a priest; also, the eldest member of a profession, or of a legislative assembly, etc.

Bless you, good father friar !

Shak.

7. One of the chief ecclesiastical authorities of the first centuries after Christ; -- often spoken of collectively as the Fathers; as, the Latin, Greek, or apostolic Fathers.

8. One who, or that which, gives origin; an originator; a producer, author, or contriver; the first to practice any art, profession, or occupation; a distinguished example or teacher.

The father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

Gen. iv. 21.

Might be the father, Harry, to that thought.

Shak.

The father of good news.

Shak.

9. The Supreme Being and Creator; God; in theology, the first person in the Trinity.

Our Father, which art in heaven.

Matt. vi. 9.

Now had the almighty Father from above . . . Bent down his eye.

Milton.

Adoptive father, one who adopts the child of another, treating it as his own. -- Apostolic father, Conscript fathers, etc. See under Apostolic, Conscript, etc. -- Father in God, a title given to bishops. -- Father of lies, the Devil. -- Father of the bar, the oldest practitioner at the bar. -- Fathers of the city, the aldermen. -- Father of the Faithful. (a) Abraham. Rom. iv. Gal. iii. 6- 9. (b) Mohammed, or one of the sultans, his successors. -- Father of the house, the member of a legislative body who has had the longest continuous service. -- Most Reverend Father in God, a title given to archbishops and metropolitans, as to the archbishops of Canterbury and York. -- Natural father, the father of an illegitimate child. -- Putative father, one who is presumed to be the father of an illegitimate child; the supposed father. -- Spiritual father. (a) A religious teacher or guide, esp. one instrumental in leading a soul to God. (b) (R. C. Ch.) A priest who hears confession in the sacrament of penance. -- The Holy Father (R. C. Ch.), the pope.

Fa"ther (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fathered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fathering.] 1. To make one's self the father of; to beget.

Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base.

Shak.

2. To take as one's own child; to adopt; hence, to assume as one's own work; to acknowledge one's self author of or responsible for (a statement, policy, etc.).

Men of wit Often fathered what he writ.

Swift.

3. To provide with a father. [R.]

Think you I am no stronger than my sex, Being so fathered and so
husbanded ?

Shak.

To father on or upon, to ascribe to, or charge upon, as one's offspring or work; to put or lay upon as being responsible. "Nothing can be so uncouth or extravagant, which may not be fathered on some fetch of wit, or some caprice of humor." Barrow.

<! p. 546 !>

Fa"ther*hood (?), n. The state of being a father; the character or authority of a father; paternity.

Fa"ther-in-law` (?), n.; pl. Fathers-in-law (&?;). The father of one's husband or wife; -- correlative to son-in-law and daughter- in-law.

A man who marries a woman having children already, is sometimes, though erroneously, called their father-in-law.

Fa"ther*land" (?), n. [Imitated fr. D. vaderland. See Father, and Land.] One's native land; the native land of one's fathers or ancestors.

Fa"ther-lash`er (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A European marine fish (Cottus bubalis), allied to the sculpin; -- called also lucky proach.

Fa"ther*less, a. 1. Destitute of a living father; as, a fatherless child.

2. Without a known author. Beau. & Fl.

Fa"ther*less*ness, n. The state of being without a father.

Fa"ther*li*ness (?), n. [From Fatherly.] The qualities of a father; parantal kindness, care, etc.

Fa"ther long"legs` (?). (Zoˆl.) See Daddy longlegs, 2.

Fa"ther*ly, a. 1. Like a father in affection and care; paternal; tender; protecting; careful.

You have showed a tender, fatherly regard.

Shak.

2. Of or pertaining to a father.

Fa"ther*ship, n. The state of being a father; fatherhood; paternity.

Fath"om (f"m), n. [OE. fadme, fame, AS. fÊm fathom, the embracing arms; akin to OS. famos the outstretched arms, D. vadem, vaam, fathom, OHG. fadom, fadum, G. faden fathom, thread, Icel. famr fathom, Sw. famn, Dan. favn; cf. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?; to spread out, &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?; outspread, flat, L. patere to lie open, extend. Cf. Patent, Petal.] 1. A measure of length, containing six feet; the space to which a man can extend his arms; -- used chiefly in measuring cables, cordage, and the depth of navigable water by soundings.

2. The measure or extant of one's capacity; depth, as of intellect; profundity; reach; penetration. [R.]

Another of his fathom they have none To lead their business.

Shak.

Fath"om, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fathomed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fathoming.] 1. To encompass with the arms extended or encircling; to measure by throwing the arms about; to span. [Obs.] Purchas.

2. To measure by a sounding line; especially, to sound the depth of; to penetrate, measure, and comprehend; to get to the bottom of. Dryden.

The page of life that was spread out before me seemed dull and
commonplace, only because I had not fathomed its deeper import.

Hawthotne.

Fath"om*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being fathomed.

Fath"om*er (?), n. One who fathoms.

Fath"om*less, a. 1. Incapable of being fathomed; immeasurable; that can not be sounded.

And buckle in a waist most fathomless.

Shak.

2. Incomprehensible.

The fathomless absurdity.

Milton.

Fa*tid"i*cal (?), a. [L. fatidicus; fatum fate + dicere to say, tell.] Having power to foretell future events; prophetic; fatiloquent; as, the fatidical oak. [R.] Howell. -- Fa*tid"i*cal*ly, adv.

Fa*tif"er*ous (?), a. [L. fatifer; fatum fate + ferre to bear, bring.] Fate-bringing; deadly; mortal; destructive. [R.] Johnson.

Fat"i*ga*ble (?), a. [L. fatigabilis: cf. F. fatigable. See Fatigue.] Easily tired. [Obs.] Bailey.

Fat"i*gate (?), a. [L. fatigatus, p. p. of fatigare. See Fatigue.] Wearied; tired; fatigued. [Obs.]

Requickened what in flesh was fatigate.

Shak.

Fat"i*gate (?), v. t. To weary; to tire; to fatigue. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

Fat`i*ga"tion (?), n. [L. fatigatio: cf. OF. fatigation.] Weariness. [Obs.] W. Montaqu.

Fa*tigue" (?), n. [F., fr. fatiguer to fatigue, L. fatigare; cf. L. affatim sufficiently.] 1. Weariness from bodily labor or mental exertion; lassitude or exhaustion of strength.

2. The cause of weariness; labor; toil; as, the fatigues of war. Dryden.

3. The weakening of a metal when subjected to repeated vibrations or strains.

Fatigue call (Mil.), a summons, by bugle or drum, to perform fatigue duties. -- Fatigue dress, the working dress of soldiers. -- Fatigue duty (Mil.), labor exacted from soldiers aside from the use of arms. Farrow. -- Fatigue party, a party of soldiers on fatigue duty.

Fa*tigue", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fatigued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fatiguing, n.] [Cf. F. fatiguer. See Fatigue, n.] To weary with labor or any bodily or mental exertion; to harass with toil; to exhaust the strength or endurance of; to tire.

Syn. -- To jade; tire; weary; bore. See Jade.

Fa*til"o*quent (?), a. [See Fatiloquist.] Prophetic; fatidical. [Obs.] Blount.

Fa*til"o*quist (?), n. [L. fatiloquus declaring fate; fatum fate+ Loqui to speak.] A fortune teller.

{ Fat"i*mite (?), Fat"i*mide (?) }, a. (Hist.) Descended from Fatima, the daughter and only child of Mohammed. -- n. A descendant of Fatima.

Fa*tis"cence (?), n. [L. fatiscense, p. pr. of fatiscere to gape or crack open.] A gaping or opening; state of being chinky, or having apertures. Kirwan.

Fat"-kid`neyed (?), a. Gross; lubberly.

Peace, ye fat-kidneyed rascal !

Shak.

Fat"ling (?), n. [Fat + - ling.] A calf, lamb, kid, or other young animal fattened for slaughter; a fat animal; -- said of such animals as are used for food.

He sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

2 Sam. vi. 13.

Fat"ly, adv. Grossly; greasily.

Fat"ner (?), n. One who fattens. [R.] See Fattener. Arbuthnit.

Fat"ness, n. 1. The quality or state of being fat, plump, or full-fed; corpulency; fullness of flesh.

Their eyes stand out with fatness.

Ps. lxxiii. 7.

2. Hence; Richness; fertility; fruitfulness.

Rich in the fatness of her plenteous soil.

Rowe.

3. That which makes fat or fertile.

The clouds drop fatness.

Philips.

Fat"ten (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fattened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fattening (?).] [See Fat, v. t.] 1. To make fat; to feed for slaughter; to make fleshy or plump with fat; to fill full; to fat.

2. To make fertile and fruitful; to enrich; as, to fatten land; to fatten fields with blood. Dryden.

Fat"ten, v. i. To grow fat or corpulent; to grow plump, thick, or fleshy; to be pampered.

And villains fatten with the brave man's labor.

Otway.

Fat"ten*er (?), n. One who, or that which, fattens; that which gives fatness or fertility.

Fat"ti*ness (?), n. State or quality of being fatty.

Fat"tish (?), a. Somewhat fat; inclined to fatness.

Coleridge, a puffy, anxious, obstructed-looking, fattish old man.

Carlyle.

Fat"ty (?), a. Containing fat, or having the qualities of fat; greasy; gross; as, a fatty substance.

Fatty acid (Chem.), any one of the paraffin series of monocarbonic acids, as formic acid, acetic, etc.; -- so called because the higher members, as stearic and palmitic acids, occur in the natural fats, and are themselves fatlike substances. -- Fatty clays. See under Clay. -- Fatty degeneration (Med.), a diseased condition, in which the oil globules, naturally present in certain organs, are so multiplied as gradually to destroy and replace the efficient parts of these organs. -- Fatty heart, Fatty liver, etc. (Med.), a heart, liver, etc., which have been the subjects of fatty degeneration or infiltration. -- Fatty infiltration (Med.), a condition in which there is an excessive accumulation of fat in an organ, without destruction of any essential parts of the latter. -- Fatty tumor (Med.), a tumor consisting of fatty or adipose tissue; lipoma.

Fa*tu"i*tous (?), a. Stupid; fatuous.

Fa*tu"i*ty (?), n. [L. fatuitas, fr. fatuus foolish: cf. F. fatuitÈ Cf. Fatuous.] Weakness or imbecility of mind; stupidity.

Those many forms of popular fatuity.

I Taylor.

Fat"u*ous (?), a. [L. fatuus.] 1. Feeble in mind; weak; silly; stupid; foolish; fatuitous. Glanvill.

2. Without reality; illusory, like the ignis fatuus.

Thence fatuous fires and meteors take their birth.

Danham.

Fat"-wit`ted (?), a. Dull; stupid. Shak.

||Fau`bourg" (f`br"; E. f"brg), n. [F.] A suburb of a French city; ||also, a district now within a city, but formerly without its walls.

Fau"cal (?), a. [L. fauces throat.] Pertaining to the fauces, or opening of the throat; faucial; esp., (Phon.) produced in the fauces, as certain deep guttural sounds found in the Semitic and some other languages.

Ayin is the most difficult of the faucals.

I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

||Fau"ces (?), n. pl. [L.] 1. (Anat.) The narrow passage from the mouth ||to the pharynx, situated between the soft palate and the base of the ||tongue; -- called also the isthmus of the fauces. On either side of ||the passage two membranous folds, called the pillars of the fauces, ||inclose the tonsils.

2. (Bot.) The throat of a calyx, corolla, etc.

3. (Zoˆl.) That portion of the interior of a spiral shell which can be seen by looking into the aperture.

Fau"cet (?), n. [F. fausset, perh. fr. L. fauces throat.] 1. A fixture for drawing a liquid, as water, molasses, oil, etc., from a pipe, cask, or other vessel, in such quantities as may be desired; -- called also tap, and cock. It consists of a tubular spout, stopped with a movable plug, spigot, valve, or slide.

2. The enlarged end of a section of pipe which receives the spigot end of the next section.

Fau"chion (?), n. See Falchion. [Obs.]

Fau"cial (?), a. (Anat.) Pertaining to the fauces; pharyngeal.

Faugh (?), interj. [Cf. Foh.] An exclamation of contempt, disgust, or abhorrence.

Faul"chion (?), n. See Falchion.

Faul"con (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Falcon.

Fauld (?), n. The arch over the dam of a blast furnace; the tymp arch.

Faule (?), n. A fall or falling band. [Obs.]

These laces, ribbons, and these faules.

Herrick.

Fault (?), n. [OE. faut, faute, F. faute (cf. It., Sp., & Pg. falta), fr. a verb meaning to want, fail, freq., fr. L. fallere to deceive. See Fail, and cf. Default.] 1. Defect; want; lack; default.

One, it pleases me, for fault of a better, to call my friend.

Shak.

2. Anything that fails, that is wanting, or that impairs excellence; a failing; a defect; a blemish.

As patches set upon a little breach Discredit more in hiding of the
fault.

Shak.

3. A moral failing; a defect or dereliction from duty; a deviation from propriety; an offense less serious than a crime.

4. (Geol. & Mining) (a) A dislocation of the strata of the vein. (b) In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam; as, slate fault, dirt fault, etc. Raymond.

5. (Hunting) A lost scent; act of losing the scent.

Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled, With much ado,
the cold fault cleary out.

Shak.

6. (Tennis) Failure to serve the ball into the proper court.

At fault, unable to find the scent and continue chase; hence, in trouble or embarrassment, and unable to proceed; puzzled; thrown off the track. -- To find fault, to find reason for blaming or complaining; to express dissatisfaction; to complain; -- followed by with before the thing complained of; but formerly by at. "Matter to find fault at." Robynson (More's Utopia).

Syn. -- -- Error; blemish; defect; imperfection; weakness; blunder; failing; vice. -- Fault, Failing, Defect, Foible. A fault is positive, something morally wrong; a failing is negative, some weakness or falling short in a man's character, disposition, or habits; a defect is also negative, and as applied to character is the absence of anything which is necessary to its completeness or perfection; a foible is a less important weakness, which we overlook or smile at. A man may have many failings, and yet commit but few faults; or his faults and failings may be few, while his foibles are obvious to all. The faults of a friend are often palliated or explained away into mere defects, and the defects or foibles of an enemy exaggerated into faults. "I have failings in common with every human being, besides my own peculiar faults; but of avarice I have generally held myself guiltless." Fox. "Presumption and self-applause are the foibles of mankind." Waterland.

Fault (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Faulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Faulting.] 1. To charge with a fault; to accuse; to find fault with; to blame. [Obs.]

For that I will not fault thee.

Old Song.

2. (Geol.) To interrupt the continuity of (rock strata) by displacement along a plane of fracture; -- chiefly used in the p. p.; as, the coal beds are badly faulted.

Fault, v. i. To err; to blunder, to commit a fault; to do wrong. [Obs.]

If after Samuel's death the people had asked of God a king, they
had not faulted.

Latimer.

Fault"er (?), n. One who commits a fault. [Obs.]

Behold the faulter here in sight.

Fairfax.

Fault"-find`er (?), n. One who makes a practice of discovering others' faults and censuring them; a scold.

Fault"-find`ing, n. The act of finding fault or blaming; -- used derogatively. Also Adj.

Fault"ful (?), a. Full of faults or sins. Shak.

Fault"i*ly (?), adv. In a faulty manner.

Fault"i*ness, n. Quality or state of being faulty.

Round, even to faultiness.

Shak.

Fault"ing, n. (Geol.) The state or condition of being faulted; the process by which a fault is produced.

Fault"less, a. Without fault; not defective or imperfect; free from blemish; free from incorrectness, vice, or offense; perfect; as, a faultless poem.

Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, Thinks what ne'er was, nor
is, nor e'er shall be.

Pope.

Syn. -- Blameless; spotless; perfect. See Blameless.

-- Fault"less*ly, adv.- Fault"less*ness, n.

Fault"y (?), a. 1. Containing faults, blemishes, or defects; imperfect; not fit for the use intended.

Created once So goodly and erect, though faulty since.

Milton.

2. Guilty of a fault, or of faults; hence, blamable; worthy of censure. Shak.

The king doth speak . . . as one which is faulty.

2 Sam. xiv. 13.

Faun (?), n. [L. Faunus, fr. favere to be favorable. See Favor.] (Rom. Myth.) A god of fields and shipherds, diddering little from the satyr. The fauns are usually represented as half goat and half man.

Satyr or Faun, or Sylvan.

Milton.

Fau"na (?), n. [NL.: cf. F. faune. See Faun.] (Zoˆl.) The animals of any given area or epoch; as, the fauna of America; fossil fauna; recent fauna.

Fau"nal (?), a. Relating to fauna.

Fau"nist (?), n. One who describes the fauna of country; a naturalist. Gilbert White.

||Fau"nus (?), n.;pl. Fauni (#). [L.] (Myth.) See Faun.

Fau"sen (?), n. [Cf. W. llysowen eel, ll sounding in Welsh almost like fl.] (Zoˆl.) A young eel. [Prov. Eng.]

||Fausse`-braye" (?), n. [F. fausse- braie.] (Mil.) A second rampart, ||exterior to, and parallel to, the main rampart, and considerably ||below its level.

||Fau`teuil" (?), n. [F. See Faldistory.] 1. An armchair; hence ||(because the members sit in fauteuils or armchairs), membership in ||the French Academy.

2. Chair of a presiding officer.

Fau"tor (?), n. [L., contr. fr. favitor, fr. favere to be favorable: cf. F. fauteur. See Favor.] A favorer; a patron; one who gives countenance or support; an abettor. [Obs.]

The king and the fautors of his proceedings.

Latimer.

Fau"tress (?), n. [L. fauutrix: cf. F. fautrice.] A patroness. [Obs.] Chapman.

||Fau`vette" (?), n. [F., dim. fr. fauve fawn-colored.] (Zoˆl.) A small ||singing bird, as the nightingale and warblers.

<! p. 547 !>

||Faux (?), n.; pl. Fauces (#). [L.] See Fauces.

||faux` pas" (?). [F. See False, and Pas.] A false step; a mistake or ||wrong measure.

Fa*vag"i*nous (?), a. [L. favus a honeycomb.] Formed like, or resembling, a honeycomb.

Fa"vas (?), n. See Favus, n., 2. Fairholt.

Fa"vel (?), a. [OF. fauvel, favel, dim. of F. fauve; of German oigin. See Fallow, a.] Yellow; fal&?;ow; dun. [Obs.] Wright.

Fa"vel, n. A horse of a favel or dun color.

To curry favel. See To curry favor, under Favor, n.

Fa"vel, n. [OF. favele, fr. L. fabella short fable, dim. of fabula. See Fable.] Flattery; cajolery; deceit. [Obs.] Skeat.

||Fa*vel"la (?), n. [NL., prob. from L. favus a honeycomb.] (Bot.) A ||group of spores arranged without order and covered with a thin ||gelatinous envelope, as in certain delicate red algÊ.

Fa*ve"o*late (?), a. [L. favus honeycomb.] Honeycomb; having cavities or cells, somewhat resembling those of a honeycomb; alveolate; favose.

Fa*vil"lous (?), a. [L. favilla sparkling or glowing ashes.] Of or pertaining to ashes. [Obs.]

Light and favillous particles.

Sir T. Browne.

Fa*vo"ni*an (?), a. [L. Favonius the west wind.] Pertaining to the west wind; soft; mild; gentle.

Fa"vor (?), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bhvaya to further, foster, causative of bh to become, be. Cf. Be. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob. for favel a horse. See 2d Favel.] 1. Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will.

Hath crawled into the favor of the king.

Shak.

2. The act of countenancing, or the condition of being countenanced, or regarded propitiously; support; promotion; befriending.

But found no favor in his lady's eyes.

Dryden.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God
and man.

Luke ii. 52.

3. A kind act or office; kindness done or granted; benevolence shown by word or deed; an act of grace or good will, as distinct from justice or remuneration.

Beg one favor at thy gracious hand.

Shak.

4. Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.

I could not discover the lenity and favor of this sentence.

Swift.

5. The object of regard; person or thing favored.

All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man, His chief delight
and favor.

Milton.

6. A gift or represent; something bestowed as an evidence of good will; a token of love; a knot of ribbons; something worn as a token of affection; as, a marriage favor is a bunch or knot of white ribbons or white flowers worn at a wedding.

Wear thou this favor for me, and stick it in thy cap.

Shak.

7. Appearance; look; countenance; face. [Obs.]

This boy is fair, of female favor.

Shak.

8. (Law) Partiality; bias. Bouvier.

9. A letter or epistle; -- so called in civility or compliment; as, your favor of yesterday is received.

10. pl. Love locks. [Obs.] Wright.

Challenge to the favor or for favor (Law), the challenge of a juror on grounds not sufficient to constitute a principal challenge, but sufficient to give rise to a probable suspicion of favor or bias, such as acquaintance, business relation, etc. See Principal challenge, under Challenge. -- In favor of, upon the side of; favorable to; for the advantage of. -- In favor with, favored, countenanced, or encouraged by. -- To curry favor [see the etymology of Favor, above], to seek to gain favor by flattery, caresses, kindness, or officious civilities. -- With one's favor, or By one's favor, with leave; by kind permission.

But, with your favor, I will treat it here.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Kindness; countenance; patronage; support; lenity; grace; gift; present; benefit.

Fa"vor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Favored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Favoring.] [Written also favour.] [Cf. OF. favorer, favorir. See Favor, n.] 1. To regard with kindness; to support; to aid, or to have the disposition to aid, or to wish success to; to be propitious to; to countenance; to treat with consideration or tenderness; to show partiality or unfair bias towards.

O happy youth! and favored of the skies.

Pope.

He that favoreth Joab, . . . let him go after Joab.

2 Sam. xx. 11.

[The painter] has favored her squint admirably.

Swift.

2. To afford advantages for success to; to facilitate; as, a weak place favored the entrance of the enemy.

3. To resemble in features; to have the aspect or looks of; as, the child favors his father.

The porter owned that the gentleman favored his master.

Spectator.

Fa"vor*a*ble (?), a. [Written also favourable.] [F. favorable, L. favorabilis favored, popular, pleasing, fr. favor. See Favor, n.] 1. Full of favor; favoring; manifesting partiality; kind; propitious; friendly.

Lend favorable ears to our request.

Shak.

Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land.

Ps. lxxxv. 1.

2. Conducive; contributing; tending to promote or facilitate; advantageous; convenient.

A place very favorable for the making levies of men.

Clarendon.

The temper of the climate, favorable to generation, health, and
long life.

Sir W. Temple.

3. Beautiful; well-favored. [Obs.] Spenser.

-- Fa"vora*ble*ness, n. -- Fa"vor*a*bly, sdv.

The faborableness of the present times to all extertions in the
cause of liberty.

Burke.

Fa"vored (?), a. 1. Countenanced; aided; regarded with kidness; as, a favored friend.

2. Having a certain favor or appearance; featured; as, well-favored; hard-favored, etc.

Fa"vored*ly (?), adv. In a favored or a favorable manner; favorably. [Obs.] Deut. xvii. 1. Arscham.

Fa"vored*ness, n. Appearance. [Obs.]

Fa"vor*er (?), n. One who favors; one who regards with kindness or friendship; a well-wisher; one who assists or promotes success or prosperity. [Written also favourer.]

And come to us as favorers, not as foes.

Shak.

Fa"vor*ess (?), n. A woman who favors or gives countenance. [Written also fovouress.]

Fa"vor*ing, a. That favors. -- Fa"vor*ing*ly, adv.

Fa"vor*ite (?), n. [OF. favorit favored, F. favori, fem. favorite, p. p. of OF. favorir, cf. It. favorito, frm. favorita, fr. favorire to favor. See Favor.] 1. A person or thing regarded with peculiar favor; one treated with partiality; one preferred above others; especially, one unduly loved, trusted, and enriched with favors by a person of high rank or authority.

Committing to a wicked favorite All public cares.

Milton.

2. pl. Short curls dangling over the temples; -- fashionable in the reign of Charles II. [Obs.] Farquhar.

3. (Sporting) The competitor (as a horse in a race) that is judged most likely to win; the competitor standing highest in the betting.

Fa"vor*ite, a. Regarded with particular affection, esteem, or preference; as, a favorite walk; a favorite child. "His favorite argument." Macaulay.

Fa"vor*it*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. favoritisme.] The disposition to favor and promote the interest of one person or family, or of one class of men, to the neglect of others having equal claims; partiality.

A spirit of favoritism to the Bank of the United States.

A. Hamilton.

Fa"vor*less, a. 1. Unfavored; not regarded with favor; having no countenance or support.

2. Unpropitious; unfavorable. [Obs.] "Fortune favorless." Spenser.

Fa*vose" (?), a. [L. favus honeycomb.] 1. (Bot.) Honeycombed. See Faveolate.

2. (Med.) Of or pertaining to the disease called favus.

Fav"o*site (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Like or pertaining to the genus Favosites.

||Fav`o*si"tes (?), n. [NL. See Favose.] (Paleon.) A genus of fossil ||corals abundant in the Silurian and Devonian rocks, having polygonal ||cells with perforated walls.

||Fa"vus (?), n. [L., honeycomb.] 1. (Med.) A disease of the scalp, ||produced by a vegetable parasite.

2. A tile or flagstone cut into an hexagonal shape to produce a honeycomb pattern, as in a pavement; -- called also favas and sectila. Mollett.

Fawe (?), a. [See Fain.] Fain; glad; delighted. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fawk"ner (?), n. [See Falconer.] A falconer. [Obs.] Donne.

Fawn (?), n. [OF. faon the young one of any beast, a fawn, F. faon a fawn, for fedon, fr. L. fetus. See Fetus.] 1. (Zoˆl.) A young deer; a buck or doe of the first year. See Buck.

2. The young of an animal; a whelp. [Obs.]

[The tigress] . . . followeth . . . after her fawns.

Holland.

3. A fawn color.

Fawn, a. Of the color of a fawn; fawn-colored.

Fawn, v. i. [Cf. F. faonner.] To bring forth a fawn.

Fawn, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fawned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fawning.] [OE. fawnen, fainen, fagnien, to rejoice, welcome, flatter, AS. fÊgnian to rejoice; akin to Icel. fagna to rejoice, welcome. See Fain.] To court favor by low cringing, frisking, etc., as a dog; to flatter meanly; -- often followed by on or upon.

You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds.

Shak.

Thou with trembling fear, Or like a fawning parasite, obeyest.

Milton.

Courtiers who fawn on a master while they betray him.

Macaulay.

Fawn, n. A servile cringe or bow; mean flattery; sycophancy. Shak.

Fawn"-col`ored (?), a. Of the color of a fawn; light yellowish brown.

Fawn"er (?), n. One who fawns; a sycophant.

Fawn"ing*ly, adv. In a fawning manner.

Faxed (?), a. [AS. feaxede haired, fr. feax hair. Cf. Paxwax.] Hairy. [Obs.] amden.

Fay (?), n. [F. fÈe. See Fate, and cf. Fairy.] A fairy; an elf. "Yellow-skirted fays." Milton.

Fay, n. [OF. fei, F. foi. See Faith.] Faith; as, by my fay. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fay (f), v. t. [imp. & p. p. fayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Faying.] [OE. feien, v.t. & i., AS. fgan to join, unite; akin to OS. fgian, D. voegen, OHG. fuogen, G. f¸gen, Sw. foga. See Fair, and cf. Fadge.] (Shipbuilding) To fit; to join; to unite closely, as two pieces of wood, so as to make the surface fit together.

Fay, v. i. (Shipbuilding) To lie close together; to fit; to fadge; -- often with in, into, with, or together.

Faying surface, that surface of an object which comes with another object to which it is fastened; -- said of plates, angle irons, etc., that are riveted together in shipwork.

Fay"al*ite (?), n. [So called from the island Fayal.] (Min.) A black, greenish, or brownish mineral of the chrysolite group. It is a silicate of iron.

||Fa`y*ence" (?), n. See Fa&?;ence.

Fay"tour (?), n. See Faitour. [Obs.] Spenser.

Faze (?), v. t. See Feeze.

Faz"zo*let` (?), n. [It. fazzoletto.] A handkerchief. [R.] percival.

Fea"ber*ry (?), n. [Cf. Prov. E. feabe, theabe, thape.] (Bot.) A gooseberry. [Prov. Eng.] Prior.

Feague (?), v. t. [Cf. G. fegen to sweep, Icel. fÊgia to cleanse, polish, E. fair, fay, to fit, fey to cleanse.] To beat or whip; to drive. [Obs.] Otway.

Fe"al (?), a. [OF. feal, feel, feeil, fedeil, F. fidËle, L. fidelis faithful, fr. fides faith. See Faith.] Faithful; loyal. [Obs.] Wright.

Fe"al*ty (?), n. [OE. faute, OF. fautÈ, fealtÈ, feelÈ, feelteit, fr. L. fidelitas, fr. fidelis faithful. See Feal, and cf. Fidelity.] 1. Fidelity to one's lord; the feudal obligation by which the tenant or vassal was bound to be faithful to his lord; the special oath by which this obligation was assumed; fidelity to a superior power, or to a government; loyality. It is no longer the practice to exact the performance of fealty, as a feudal obligation. Wharton (Law Dict. ). Tomlins.

2. Fidelity; constancy; faithfulness, as of a friend to a friend, or of a wife to her husband.

He should maintain fealty to God.

I. Taylor.

Makes wicked lightnings of her eyes, and saps The fealty of our
friends.

tennyson.

Swore fealty to the new government.

Macaulay.

Fealty is distinguished from homage, which is an acknowledgment of tenure, while fealty implies an oath. See Homage. Wharton.

Syn. -- Homage; loyality; fidelity; constancy.

Fear (?), n. A variant of Fere, a mate, a companion. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fear, n. [OE. fer, feer, fere, AS. f&?;r a coming suddenly upon, fear, danger; akin to D. vaar, OHG. fra danger, G. gefahr, Icel. fr harm, mischief, plague, and to E. fare, peril. See Fare.] 1. A painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger; apprehension; anxiety; solicitude; alarm; dread.

The degrees of this passion, beginning with the most moderate, may be thus expressed, -- apprehension, fear, dread, fright, terror.

Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of future evil
likely to befall us.

Locke.

Where no hope is left, is left no fear.

Milton.

2. (Script.) (a) Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude to avoid, God's wrath; the trembling and awful reverence felt toward the Supreme Belng. (b) Respectful reverence for men of authority or worth.

I will put my fear in their hearts.

Jer. xxxii. 40.

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Ps. xxxiv. 11.

render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due
. . . fear to whom fear.

Rom. xiii. 7.

3. That which causes, or which is the object of, apprehension or alarm; source or occasion of terror; danger; dreadfulness.

There were they in great fear, where no fear was.

Ps. liii. 5.

The fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal
enterprise.

Shak.

For fear, in apprehension lest. "For fear you ne'er see chain nor money more." Shak.

Fear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fearing.] [OE. feren, faeren, to frighten, to be afraid, AS. f&?;ran to terrify. See Fear, n.] 1. To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude.

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

Ps. xxiii. 4.

With subordinate clause.

I greatly fear my money is not safe.

Shak.

I almost fear to quit your hand.

D. Jerrold.

2. To have a reverential awe of; to solicitous to avoid the displeasure of.

Leave them to God above; him serve and fear.

Milton.

3. To be anxious or solicitous for. [R.]

The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore
. . . I fear you.

Shak.

4. To suspect; to doubt. [Obs.]

Ay what else, fear you not her courage?

Shak.

5. To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by fear. [Obs.]

fear their people from doing evil.

Robynsin (More's utopia).

Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.

Shak.

Syn. -- To apprehend; dread; reverence; venerate.

Fear, v. i. To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety on account of some expected evil.

I exceedingly fear and quake.

Heb. xii. 21.

Fear"er (?), n. One who fars. Sir P. Sidney.

Fear"ful (?), a. 1. Full of fear, apprehension, or alarm; afraid; frightened.

Anxious amidst all their success, and fearful amidat all their
power.

Bp. Warburton.

2. inclined to fear; easily frightened; without courage; timid.

What man is there that is fearful and faint- hearted?

Deut. xx. 8.

3. Indicating, or caused by, fear.

Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh.

Shak.

4. Inspiring fear or awe; exciting apprehension or terror; terrible; frightful; dreadful.

This glorious and fearful name, The Lord thy God.

Deut. xxviii. 58.

Death is a fearful thing.

Shak.

In dreams they fearful precipices tread.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Apprehensive; afraid; timid; timorous; horrible; distressing; shocking; frightful; dreadful; awful.

Fear"ful*ly, adv. In a fearful manner.

Fear"ful*ness, n. The state of being fearful.

Fear"less, a. Free from fear.

Syn. -- Bold; courageous; intrepid; valorous; valiant; brave; undaunted; dauntless; heroic.

-- Fear"less*ly, adv. -- Fear"less*ness, n.

Fear"naught` (?), n. 1. A fearless person.

2. A stout woolen cloth of great thickness; dreadnaught; also, a warm garment.

Fear"some (?) a. 1. Frightful; causing fear. [Scotch] "This fearsome wind." Sir W. Scott

2. Easily frightened; timid; timorous. "A silly fearsome thing." B. Taylor

<! p. 548 !>

Fea"si*bil*ity (?) n.; pl. Feasibilities (-tiz). [from Feasible] The quality of being feasible; practicability; also, that which is feasible; as, before we adopt a plan, let us consider its feasibility.

Men often swallow falsities for truths, dubiosities for
certainties, possibilities for feasibilities.

Sir T. Browne.

Fea"si*ble (?) a. [F. faisable, fr. faire to make or do, fr. L. facere. See Fact, Feat.] 1. Capable of being done, executed, or effected; practicable.

Always existing before their eyes as a thing feasible in practice.

Burke.

It was not feasible to gratify so many ambitions.

Beaconsfield.

2. Fit to be used or tailed, as land. [R.] R. Trumbull.

Fea"si*ble*ness, n. -- Fea"si*bly, adv.

Feast (fst), n. [OE. feste festival, holiday, feast, OF. feste festival, F. fÍte, fr. L. festum, pl. festa, fr. festus joyful, festal; of uncertain origin. Cf. Fair, n., Festal, FÍte.] 1. A festival; a holiday; a solemn, or more commonly, a joyous, anniversary.

The seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.

Ex. xiii. 6.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the
passover.

Luke ii. 41.

Ecclesiastical feasts are called immovable when they always occur on the same day of the year; otherwise they are called movable.

2. A festive or joyous meal; a grand, ceremonious, or sumptuous entertainment, of which many guests partake; a banquet characterized by tempting variety and abundance of food.

Enough is as good as a feast.

Old Proverb.

Belshazzar the King made a great feast to a thousand of his lords.

Dan. v. 1.

3. That which is partaken of, or shared in, with delight; something highly agreeable; entertainment.

The feast of reason, and the flow of soul.

Pope.

Feast day, a holiday; a day set as a solemn commemorative festival.

Syn. -- Entertainment; regale; banquet; treat; carousal; festivity; festival. -- Feast, Banquet, Festival, Carousal. A feast sets before us viands superior in quantity, variety, and abundance; a banquet is a luxurious feast; a festival is the joyful celebration by good cheer of some agreeable event. Carousal is unrestrained indulgence in frolic and drink.

Feast, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Feasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Feasting.] [OE. festen, cf. OF. fester to rest from work, F. fÍter to celebrate a holiday. See Feast, n.] 1. To eat sumptuously; to dine or sup on rich provisions, particularly in large companies, and on public festivals.

And his sons went and feasted in their houses.

Job. i. 4.

2. To be highly gratified or delighted.

With my love's picture then my eye doth feast.

Shak.

Feast, v. t. 1. To entertain with sumptuous provisions; to treat at the table bountifully; as, he was feasted by the king. Hayward.

2. To delight; to gratify; as, to feast the soul.

Feast your ears with the music a while.

Shak.

Feast"er (?), n. 1. One who fares deliciously.

2. One who entertains magnificently. Johnson.

Feast"ful (?), a. Festive; festal; joyful; sumptuous; luxurious. "Feastful days." Milton.

-- Feast"ful*ly, adv.

Feat (?), n. [OE. fet, OF. fet, fait, F. fait, factum, fr. L. facere, factum, to make or do. Cf. Fact, Feasible, Do.] 1. An act; a deed; an exploit.

The warlike feats I have done.

Shak.

2. A striking act of strength, skill, or cunning; a trick; as, feats of horsemanship, or of dexterity.

Feat, v. t. To form; to fashion. [Obs.]

To the more mature, A glass that feated them.

Shak.

Feat, a. [Compar. Feater (?); superl. Featest.] [F. fait made, shaped, fit, p. p. of faire to make or do. See Feat, n.] Dexterous in movements or service; skillful; neat; nice; pretty. [Archaic]

Never master had a page . . . so feat.

Shak.

And look how well my garments sit upon me -- Much feater than
before.

Shak.

Feat"-bod`ied (?), a. Having a feat or trim body. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Feat"e*ous (?), a. [Cf. OF. faitis, faitice, fetis, well made, fine, L. facticius made by art.] Dexterous; neat. [Obs.] Johnson.

-- Feat"e*ous*ly, adv.

Feath"er (f"r), n. [OE. fether, AS. feer; akin to D. veder, OHG. fedara, G. feder, Icel. fjˆr, Sw. fj‰der, Dan. fjÊder, Gr. ptero`n wing, feather, pe`tesqai to fly, Skr. pattra wing, feather, pat to fly, and prob. to L. penna feather, wing. &radic;76, 248. Cf. Pen a feather.] 1. One of the peculiar dermal appendages, of several kinds, belonging to birds, as contour feathers, quills, and down.

An ordinary feather consists of the quill or hollow basal part of the stem; the shaft or rachis, forming the upper, solid part of the stem; the vanes or webs, implanted on the rachis and consisting of a series of slender laminÊ or barbs, which usually bear barbules, which in turn usually bear barbicels and interlocking hooks by which they are fastened together. See Down, Quill, Plumage.

2. Kind; nature; species; -- from the proverbial phrase, "Birds of a feather," that is, of the same species. [R.]

I am not of that feather to shake off My friend when he must need
me.

Shak.

3. The fringe of long hair on the legs of the setter and some other dogs.

4. A tuft of peculiar, long, frizzly hair on a horse.

5. One of the fins or wings on the shaft of an arrow.

6. (Mach. & Carp.) A longitudinal strip projecting as a fin from an object, to strengthen it, or to enter a channel in another object and thereby prevent displacement sidwise but permit motion lengthwise; a spline.

7. A thin wedge driven between the two semicylindrical parts of a divided plug in a hole bored in a stone, to rend the stone. Knight.

8. The angular adjustment of an oar or paddle-wheel float, with reference to a horizontal axis, as it leaves or enters the water.

Feather is used adjectively or in combination, meaning composed of, or resembling, a feather or feathers; as, feather fan, feather-heeled, feather duster.