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Fair   /fɛr/   Listen
adjective
Fair  adj.  (compar. fairer; superl. fairest)  
1.
Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure. "A fair white linen cloth."
2.
Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful. "Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made."
3.
Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin. "The northern people large and fair-complexioned."
4.
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day. "You wish fair winds may waft him over."
5.
Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered; open; direct; said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view. "The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged."
6.
(Shipbuilding) Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.
7.
Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor; open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; said of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a fair statement. "I would call it fair play."
8.
Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; said of words, promises, etc. "When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty."
9.
Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting.
10.
Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen. "The news is very fair and good, my lord."
Fair ball. (Baseball)
(a)
A ball passing over the home base at the height called for by the batsman, and delivered by the pitcher while wholly within the lines of his position and facing the batsman.
(b)
A batted ball that falls inside the foul lines; called also a fair hit.
Fair maid. (Zool.)
(a)
The European pilchard (Clupea pilchardus) when dried.
(b)
The southern scup (Stenotomus Gardeni). (Virginia)
Fair one, a handsome woman; a beauty,
Fair play, equitable or impartial treatment; a fair or equal chance; justice.
From fair to middling, passable; tolerable. (Colloq.)
The fair sex, the female sex.
Synonyms: Candid; open; frank; ingenuous; clear; honest; equitable; impartial; reasonable. See Candid.



noun
Fair  n.  
1.
Fairness, beauty. (Obs.)
2.
A fair woman; a sweetheart. "I have found out a gift for my fair."
3.
Good fortune; good luck. "Now fair befall thee!"
The fair, anything beautiful; women, collectively. "For slander's mark was ever yet the fair."



Fair  n.  
1.
A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place with their merchandise at a stated or regular season, or by special appointment, for trade.
2.
A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair; a church fair.
3.
A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an agricultural fair.
4.
An exhibition by a number of organizations, including governmental organizations, for the purpose of acquainting people with such organizations or their members, not primarily for commercial purposes; as, the 1939 World's Fair. "Meet me in St. Louis, Louis Meet me at the fair Don't tell me the lights are shining Anyplace but there."
After the fair, Too late. (Colloq.)



adverb
Fair  adv.  Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably.
Fair and square, justly; honestly; equitably; impartially. (Colloq.)
To bid fair. See under Bid.
To speak fair, to address with courtesy and frankness. (Archaic)



verb
Fair  v. t.  
1.
To make fair or beautiful. (Obs.) "Fairing the foul."
2.
(Shipbuilding) To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Fair" Quotes from Famous Books



... His disciples. Here in a barn, amid vulgar folk, and uncouth, dim surroundings, He had appeared, He, her Lord and Master. He had touched her with that white unspeakable appeal. The laughter died upon the fair girlish face and prayer issued from the beautiful lips. If vulgar folk, the despised Baptists, were good enough for the Christ, were they not good enough for her? Among them she had felt His consecrating touch and among them she determined to devote herself to Him. Her parents commanded ...
— William Lloyd Garrison - The Abolitionist • Archibald H. Grimke

... nature, Honey-like in its taste, The genial, fair, thin element Filtering through the sands, Which is sweeter than cinnamon, And is well known to us hunters. O, that eternal, healing draught, Which comes from under the earth, Which contains abundance of good And ...
— Wild Wales - Its People, Language and Scenery • George Borrow

... admirable speakers, and are sure to be of incalculable value. I name them simply as types: others were appointed, equally distinguished in other fields. If, then, the Emperor is blamed for not liking parliamentary and party government, it is only fair to say that he has taken the surest way to ...
— Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White Volume II • Andrew Dickson White

... although so far as I know Felipe is still in an American training camp," Bettina replied. "But, Vera, I am not yet an enthusiast over Gerry. However, as we have never liked each other, perhaps I am not fair. I do not believe that people's natures ever entirely change, even if circumstances do affect one for a time. So I shall have to behold the miracle of a transformed Gerry before I am convinced of the change I am told has taken ...
— The Campfire Girls on the Field of Honor • Margaret Vandercook

... Romance, Mail-clad, with shield and lance, Are laid in 'fair Ophelia's' watery tomb, Still, passion rules her hour, Love, Hate, Revenge, have power, And hearts, in ...
— Continental Monthly , Vol. 6, No. 1, July, 1864 - Devoted to Literature and National Policy. • Various


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