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What is "fair"

Crossword clues for fair

fair
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
fair
I.adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a book fair (=an event at which publishers and authors show new books)
a certain/fair amount of sth
▪ Dina encountered a fair amount of envy among her colleagues.
a craft fair (=event where people buy and sell crafts)
a fair chance (=a fairly good chance)
▪ If you work, you have a fair chance of passing the test.
(a) fair comment (=a criticism that is reasonable)
▪ I accepted as fair comment 90% of what he said.
a fair fight
▪ It was a fair fight, just two on two.
a fair reflection (=reasonable and right)
▪ The score was 4 – 1, which was a fair reflection of the difference between the sides.
a fair trial
▪ He is entitled to a fair trial.
a fair whack (=quite a large amount)
▪ There’s still a fair whack of work to be done.
a fair/unfair comparison
▪ A fair comparison between the two firms is extremely difficult.
a good/fair/nice size (=fairly big)
▪ The garden is a good size.
county fair
ensure fair play
▪ rules designed to ensure fair play
fair competition
▪ Fair competition offers the best guarantee of good services and low prices.
fair copy
fair dinkum
fair game
▪ The young star’s behavior made her fair game for the tabloid press.
fair play
▪ rules designed to ensure fair play
fair sex
fair trade
▪ fair trade bananas
fair warning
▪ He was given fair warning that such behaviour would not be tolerated.
fair
▪ Her long fair hair fell untidily over her shoulders.
fair (=one in which everyone has the same chance of winning)
▪ Divide the class into groups in a way that will make it a fair contest.
fair (=light in colour)
▪ People with fair complexions should use plenty of sunscreen.
fair
▪ I am sure we can agree on a fair price.
fair (=with no unfair advantage to one person or group)
▪ The ruling party has promised that the elections will be fair.
fair/pale/white
▪ I have fair skin that burns very easily.
fine/sunny/fair/dry
▪ If the weather is fine, we’ll eat outside.
▪ Water pot plants daily during spells of dry weather.
given a fair crack of the whip
▪ They feel they haven’t been given a fair crack of the whip.
list sb in fair/stable etc condition
▪ Several passengers were listed in critical condition.
plain/honest/fair dealing (=a particular way of doing business)
▪ a reputation for fair dealing
sense of fair play
▪ This kind of behavior violates many people’s sense of fair play.
trade fair
(whether) by fair means or foul (=using unfair methods if necessary)
▪ They were determined to achieve victory, by fair means or foul.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
amount
▪ That involved a fair amount of travel.
▪ Oliver Ingraham had even more clothes than Jasper had, and Jasper had a fair amount of clothing.
▪ After some further outside tests and a fair amount of soul-searching, I eventually bought this detector and the 10.5in accessory coil.
▪ Moreover he has spent a fair amount of time staying in touch with Donna Davidson and others on the reengineering project.
▪ There is a fair amount of tidal movement but 5 oz plain leads are the order of the day.
▪ It may take hours to get it started, a fair amount of cursing and a few swift kicks.
▪ You may also be involved in a fair amount of travel.
▪ The machine occupies a fair amount of desk space.
bet
▪ As soon as a board attempts to interfere with management tasks it's a fair bet that profits will decline.
▪ And I got on at 50-1 immediately after that race, and had a fair bet.
▪ Since they're not, it's a fair bet that they show something she doesn't want you to know.
▪ It is a fair bet that this suspicion is right.
bit
▪ In the past I'd seen a fair bit of Lloyd.
▪ The uncertain nature of Internet connections still results in a fair bit of static at times.
▪ However, top of range is top of range in both cases and professional instruments cost a fair bit.
▪ I conduct executive searches for senior-level management, so I know a fair bit about how these companies are managed.
▪ They'd have a fair bit of tidying up to do before they left.
▪ New Labour comes in for a fair bit of his well-advertised stick.
▪ Like Storie Russell also did a fair bit of coaching.
▪ You do have to compromise a fair bit and I suppose that I would like more freedom than I've got.
chance
▪ The private sector must be given a fair chance to compete for local authority contracts.
▪ She feels she has a fair chance.
▪ If it were not for the debilitating character question, Clinton would surely have a fair chance of beating Bush.
▪ People get a fair chance to turn themselves around.
▪ Had he done so, there was a fair chance of victory.
▪ But people demand a fair chance at justice as surely as they demand medical care.
▪ You appreciate that there is a fair chance that you might find yourself prematurely in another world?
▪ The youth Law changes are in their infancy and are an asset to the game if they are given a fair chance.
comment
▪ To say that temperament is to a certain degree putty in the owner's hands, is fair comment.
▪ Films rather than books were the medium to aim for-fair comment, of course, that helped me change direction.
▪ This was fair comment at the time; some of it doubtless justified.
▪ There is no wrong done if it is true, or if it is fair comment on a matter of public interest.
▪ If its people called you a liberal subversive in the pay of effete capitalist Western powers it was regarded as fair comment.
▪ Another defence to an action for defamation is that of fair comment.
competition
▪ They evidently prefer strict discipline and central control to fair competition.
▪ Others were unenthusiastic about the government's notion of fair competition.
▪ When will we have a level playing field in Northern Ireland with fair competition between all ports?
condition
▪ Body seems in fair condition, own hair, not thinning.
▪ Another victim was in fair condition with minor bruises, and the condition of the seventh was not known.
▪ Three remain at Massachusetts General Hospital, where they were listed in fair condition Tuesday.
▪ The architecture is still in a fair condition and some of the marble facing remains.
▪ Borders, 47, who was in fair condition, suffered a concussion and swelling to the right arm and left eye.
▪ The gallery is frail, the roof in fair condition.
deal
▪ Only in this way can you be confident of a fair deal.
▪ But to him, the only fair deal benefits him, not Tucson.
▪ Failure to give you a fair deal in this respect is likely to expose a company to legal attack.
▪ In the hope of getting a fair deal, you should press him to undertake the most careful inquiry into the facts.
▪ Andy does his best by us, and overall most get a fair deal.
▪ Knowing Anthony's appetite that was probably a very fair deal, Nigel thought.
▪ Yet, it was a pretty fair deal.
▪ This seems a very fair deal, for the transformation is pretty dramatic.
degree
▪ There is probably a fair degree of subjectivity in this exercise.
▪ The best Scourie brown trout lochs require a fair degree of fitness to reach.
▪ Though greeted with nothing like the derision that met Howarth's six-page statement, the spokesmen encountered a fair degree of scepticism.
▪ Gedge had a straight-forward upbringing, but one with a fair degree of discipline.
▪ Even where they did, there was a fair degree of flexibility.
election
▪ We knew that a fair election would not in itself solve the country's problems.
▪ Overseeing a free and fair election is one thing; enforcing the result is quite another.
▪ It is surely a fundamental principle of fair elections that all voters should cast the same kind of vote.
▪ Pervez Musharraf says will be crucial to ensuring free and fair elections.
exchange
▪ That sounds like a pretty fair exchange.
▪ Such items seemed a fair exchange for free baths.
▪ When he asked anxiously if she minded, she said it was a fair exchange for all his kindness to her.
▪ I didn't consider it a fair exchange.
▪ A possibility of future heartbreak against the certainty of present pain ... It seemed like a fair exchange.
game
▪ All kinds of birds and fish were also fair game, with parrots being particularly prized prey.
▪ Any woman on this street would seem to be fair game, and especially a gaijin.
▪ Unlike the Koran, however, the Bible has long been fair game for spirited literary re-readings.
▪ Government officials were always fair game to be bought by special interests.
▪ However, small, non-mechanical parts are fair game and might show considerable savings.
▪ All along, Republicans have viewed Hillary Clinton as fair game rather than fair maiden.
▪ Any effect that a change in a gene has on its own replication probability is fair game for natural selection.
▪ Publicly owned structures such as the Brooklyn Bridge are fair game, Mr Tratos says.
hair
▪ He stroked her fair hair before taking it.
▪ The Indo-Aryans, by contrast, mostly but not invariably had pale skins and fair hair.
▪ Her fair hair was dull and dark-looking.
▪ As mine was a redemptive story about fair hair, hers was one about straight hair.
▪ In his crinkly fair hair there was hardly any grey.
▪ He was a small, thin man, between thirty and forty years old, with fair hair and no beard.
▪ He's got long fair hair and a little white face too.
hearing
▪ The audi alteram partem rule-the right to a fair hearing.
▪ He says that he feels it was a fair hearing.
▪ Attention is exclusively on the right to a fair hearing.
▪ The Audi Alteram Partem rule-the right to a fair hearing.
▪ Students could not win a fair hearing it seemed, but they did not pursue the matter any further at this time.
▪ But right now, all I want is a fair hearing.
▪ I ask hon. Members to give a fair hearing to the last few questions.
number
▪ But a fair number of them went on to greater things.
▪ Of course, he had also collected a fair number of stings, but he had scarcely noticed them.
▪ Scientists must proceed cautiously, moving ahead only with the assent of a fair number of their colleagues.
▪ This is when the physical education program takes place as well, including a fair number of intramural sports.
▪ An answer that the Under-Secretary gave me on 15 October 1990 suggested that a fair number of warning signals would be available.
▪ And a fair number of letters from advanced users who thought this whole exercise was a little too simplistic.
▪ The capitals are not all genuine, but a fair number of those in the nave and side-aisles surely are.
▪ The lecture notes are fragmented; a fair number of sentences remain incomplete.
play
▪ Curiosity alone kept me there, and fair play.
▪ Boxing is a means toward good citizenship, of fair play, of self-reliance.
▪ These clubs did not necessarily take their sport in the spirit of fair play.
▪ Aladdin was very good-natured and had a sense of fair play.
▪ It doesn't feel like fair play, but I have to forgive them.
▪ Only in a secure Britain can we break down barriers and give people a real sense of fair play.
▪ In fact, the Globe favored public ownership but believed in fair play for the private interests.
price
▪ But Sir Emmanuel was good in other ways and he used to buy our wool at a fair price.
▪ Lockheed Martin paid a fair price for Loral given the demand for defense-electronics companies, he said.
▪ The utilities couldn't deliver electricity at a fair price because the government forced them to sell at an unfairly low price.
▪ Speaking of a fair price, where will the money for the reward or bonus come from?
▪ Economic practices come into the literature in determining a fair price or a fair wage.
▪ This measures the ratio of the fair price of the share to the book price taken from the balance sheet.
▪ A fair price, they say, is about 46p, the equivalent of net assets.
▪ That function was not the provision of wholesome food at fair prices.
shake
▪ Q.. Do you think the press has given you a fair shake?
share
▪ But he has had more than his fair share of injuries in that time.
▪ Fishermen are willing do their fair share to protect these magnificent fish.
▪ You seem to like your fair share of them, of course.
▪ It had at least its fair share of brains.
▪ He has become one of the most wicked on a continent that has seen more than its fair share.
▪ Accordingly, each of these five albums offers a fair share of revelatory moments.
▪ Minginish itself had its fair share of magic.
▪ He complains people living outside the city use Tucson services without paying their fair share.
skin
▪ Freckles usually went with very fair skin.
▪ It was a child of about two, with fair skin, plump, round-eyed. 1 smiled and shrugged.
▪ Having the fair skin that so often accompanied red hair, she was usually more careful.
▪ Mark's fair skin blocks even less.
▪ She was a real beauty, with the Earnshaws' dark eyes and the Lintons' fair skin.
▪ Q I have fair skin that burns very easily and barely tans.
trade
▪ They have objected to the suggestion that fair trade means that their own chocolate is unfairly traded.
▪ Religious and civil power united to support a planned economy and fair trade practices.
▪ One example is the fair trade movement.
▪ Where, for example, is there even a passing reference to the benefits of fair trade?
▪ Saouma called for fair trade terms to allow developing countries to sell their agricultural products to the industrialized countries.
▪ As if it were a fair trade, she had left the gun on the coffee table next to the flowers.
▪ The first set of sales figures suggests that consumers are very responsive to this idea of fair trade.
▪ Compelling arguments for fair trade have been raised by influential spokespersons.
trial
▪ Two unresolved issues fuel speculation that he might not receive a fair trial.
▪ What I did was win us a change of venue on grounds that a fair trial was impossible in Greene County.
▪ The police seem to be a law unto themselves sometimes, even if it does prejudice a fair trial.
▪ Tyson insists he did not receive a fair trial, but the courts say he did.
▪ In order to give Love Hearts a fair trial.
▪ When the principle of free speech collides with the principle of fair trial, the former may have to give way.
▪ Today many physicians admit that complementary medicine has some potential and deserves a fair trial.
▪ Any human being should be entitled to a fair trial.
way
▪ But is it not the only fair way to describe a policy that deceived so many people for so long?
▪ On the contrary, I think it is rather a fair way.
▪ If you're like me you've still got a fair way to go!
▪ John Smith has sought to present Labour's tax increases as a fair way to redistribute money from rich to poor.
weather
▪ This was one of Rona's showpieces, and in fair weather would be the archetypal cave of smuggling fiction.
▪ In the land of fair weather, there appeared to be plenty of fair-weather fans.
▪ It was by all accounts a good match and fair weather was maintained throughout.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a fair crack of the whip
at a great/fair lick
can't say fairer than that
fair play to sb
get/give sb a fair shake
▪ Q.. Do you think the press has given you a fair shake?
it's a fair cop
▪ And criminals are warned that from then, they won't even have time to tell police it's a fair cop.
▪ Do you want me to say that it's a fair cop or something?
▪ It's a fair cop - honest, officer!
it's a safe/sure/fair bet (that)
▪ As soon as a board attempts to interfere with management tasks it's a fair bet that profits will decline.
▪ He may not fancy it, but it's a safe bet that he would be the first man to do it.
▪ Since they're not, it's a fair bet that they show something she doesn't want you to know.
the fair sex
turnabout is fair play
your (fair) share
▪ I've made my share of mistakes.
▪ We'll make sure everyone gets their fair share.
▪ You've sure had your share of bad luck, haven't you?
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ All we're asking for is a fair wage.
▪ Both her children are very fair.
▪ Despite the discrimination they suffered, my grandparents remained fair, decent, good people.
▪ Do you think it's fair that she gets paid more money than me?
▪ Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
▪ Her husband should help take care of the baby - it's only fair.
▪ I've always tried to be fair to all my children.
▪ In order to be fair to everyone, ticket sales are limited to two for each person.
▪ It should be generally fair and warm for at least the next three days.
▪ Jenny excels in science, but her grades in English are just fair.
▪ Julia has blue eyes and fair hair.
▪ Kelson has a reputation as a fair and compassionate judge.
▪ Mrs. Anderson is strict but she's fair.
▪ My grandfather used to say that life isn't always fair.
▪ Observers will be present to ensure a free and fair election.
▪ Someone fair skin like you should probably use a stronger sunscreen.
▪ The Indians were at first frightened of the fair-skinned Europeans.
▪ The new government has promised to hold free and fair elections.
▪ The old system of student funding seemed much fairer.
▪ To be fair, these are complicated, serious issues, and the department has only been discussing them for a short time.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ All observers noted that the elections had been free and fair and that conduct had exceeded all expectations.
▪ And yet this is hardly fair.
▪ But people demand a fair chance at justice as surely as they demand medical care.
▪ Oh it was a fair scandal in our village, I can tell you.
▪ The Court held that he need not state expressly that his quote was a fair quote.
▪ The tax law provides for a deduction of the fair market value of the work of art.
▪ They also have an interest in sport that is seen to be clean, fair and exciting.
▪ Wearing my competition hat, I shall be happy to examine any evidence which suggests that competition is not fair.
II.noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
annual
▪ By the 1700s, there were no less than seven annual fairs which mainly reflected the specialized industries that had developed.
▪ Shortly after arriving, she accompanied Joe to the annual church fair and supper.
■ NOUN
art
▪ Now in its seventh year, the Los Angeles contemporary art fair will take place from 3 to 6 December.
book
▪ The gloom apparent among publishers when President Menem made his appearance to open the book fair was understandable against this background.
▪ During the last few weeks of Little Stonham Primary School's history a book fair was held.
county
▪ Rains always fell on state and county fairs.
▪ Clark had set up a booth to display his wares at a county fair to which Roosevelt was paying a visit.
craft
▪ Her ceramics are sought after at craft fairs in Northallerton, Harrogate and York.
job
▪ The workers also were given the chance to participate in a job fair.
state
▪ None the less, the state fair was going on as scheduled.
▪ Did responsible parents take their children to the state fair?
▪ Annie hired a new manager, William A.. Banks, who booked her in a number of state fairs.
trade
▪ Two months ago 1,450 firms from 30 countries laid out their wares at a trade fair.
▪ Eighty countries plan to attend the Baghdad trade fair in November.
▪ A similar problem may arise where orders are placed by telephone, or at trade fairs, over lunch and so on.
▪ Champagne was also prospering during this time from the great trade fairs.
▪ A concurrent trade fair will comprise stands of about fifty museums, exhibition specialists and suppliers.
▪ Come to the Munich trade fairs and plan your future without frontiers.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a fair crack of the whip
at a great/fair lick
can't say fairer than that
fair dinkum
fair play to sb
get/give sb a fair shake
▪ Q.. Do you think the press has given you a fair shake?
it's a fair cop
▪ And criminals are warned that from then, they won't even have time to tell police it's a fair cop.
▪ Do you want me to say that it's a fair cop or something?
▪ It's a fair cop - honest, officer!
it's a safe/sure/fair bet (that)
▪ As soon as a board attempts to interfere with management tasks it's a fair bet that profits will decline.
▪ He may not fancy it, but it's a safe bet that he would be the first man to do it.
▪ Since they're not, it's a fair bet that they show something she doesn't want you to know.
light/fair/dark complected
the fair sex
turnabout is fair play
your (fair) share
▪ I've made my share of mistakes.
▪ We'll make sure everyone gets their fair share.
▪ You've sure had your share of bad luck, haven't you?
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ But then I went to one of those arts-and-crafts fairs.
▪ Did responsible parents take their children to the state fair?
▪ Go to a franchise fair, for example.
▪ Her ceramics are sought after at craft fairs in Northallerton, Harrogate and York.
▪ Such fairs are a great morale booster for any nurse who feels unappreciated.
▪ The number of stalls and the range of employers represented at careers fairs has dwindled sharply.
▪ Want the agricultural shows filled with fairs and cheap sideshows so they can enjoy themselves? 9.
III.adverb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ Her job is to make sure that the money is distributed fairly.
▪ I believe I acted fairly when I expelled those students.
Related phrases:
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Fair

Fair \Fair\ (f[^a]r), a. [Compar. Fairer; superl. Fairest.] [OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. f[ae]ger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. f["u]gen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and prob. also to E. fang, peace, pact, Cf. Fang, Fain, Fay to fit.]

  1. Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure.

    A fair white linen cloth.
    --Book of Common Prayer.

  2. Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.

    Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made.
    --Shak.

  3. Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin.

    The northern people large and fair-complexioned.
    --Sir M. Hale.

  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.
    --Prior.

  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.
    --Sir W. Raleigh.

  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.''
    --Shak.

  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.
    --L' Estrange.

  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. --Shak. Fair ball. (Baseball)

    1. 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.

    2. A batted ball that falls inside the foul lines; -- called also a fair hit. Fair maid. (Zo["o]l.)

      1. The European pilchard ( Clupea pilchardus) when dried.

      2. 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.

        Syn: Candid; open; frank; ingenuous; clear; honest; equitable; impartial; reasonable. See Candid.

Fair

Fair \Fair\, n. [OE. feire, OF. feire, F. foire, fr. L. fariae, pl., days of rest, holidays, festivals, akin to festus festal. See Feast.]

  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.
    --Song (1904: words by Andrew B. Sterling, music by Kerry Mills, popularized by Billy Murray. Prominent in the movie "Meet Me In St. Louis", 1944)

    After the fair, Too late. [Colloq.]

Fair

Fair \Fair\, adv. Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably.

Fair and square, justly; honestly; equitably; impartially.

To bid fair. See under Bid.

To speak fair, to address with courtesy and frankness.

Fair

Fair \Fair\, n.

  1. Fairness, beauty. [Obs.]
    --Shak.

  2. A fair woman; a sweetheart.

    I have found out a gift for my fair.
    --Shenstone.

  3. Good fortune; good luck.

    Now fair befall thee !
    --Shak.

    The fair, anything beautiful; women, collectively. ``For slander's mark was ever yet the fair.''
    --Shak.

Fair

Fair \Fair\, v. t.

  1. To make fair or beautiful. [Obs.]

    Fairing the foul.
    --Shak.

  2. (Shipbuilding) To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.

Related phrases:
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
fair

"a stated market in a town or city; a regular meeting to buy, sell, or trade," early 14c., from Anglo-French feyre (late 13c.), from Old French feire, faire "fair, market; feast day," from Vulgar Latin *feria "holiday, market fair," from Latin feriae "religious festivals, holidays," related to festus "solemn, festive, joyous" (see feast (n.)).

fair

Old English fægere "beautifully," from fæger "beautiful" (see fair (adj.)). From c.1300 as "honorably;" mid-14c. as "correctly; direct;" from 1510s as "clearly." Fair and square is from c.1600. Fair-to-middling is from 1829, of livestock markets.

fair

Old English fæger "pleasing to the sight (of persons and body features, also of objects, places, etc.); beautiful, handsome, attractive," of weather, "bright, clear, pleasant; not rainy," also in late Old English "morally good," from Proto-Germanic *fagraz (cognates: Old Saxon fagar, Old Norse fagr, Swedish fager, Old High German fagar "beautiful," Gothic fagrs "fit"), perhaps from PIE *pek- (1) "to make pretty" (cognates: Lithuanian puošiu "I decorate").\n

\nThe meaning in reference to weather preserves the oldest sense "suitable, agreeable" (opposed to foul (adj.)). Of the main modern senses of the word, that of "light of complexion or color of hair and eyes, not dusky or sallow" (of persons) is from c.1200, faire, contrasted to browne and reflecting tastes in beauty. From early 13c. as "according with propriety; according with justice," hence "equitable, impartial, just, free from bias" (mid-14c.).\n

\nOf wind, "not excessive; favorable for a ship's passage," from late 14c. Of handwriting from 1690s. From c.1300 as "promising good fortune, auspicious." Also from c.1300 as "above average, considerable, sizable." From 1860 as "comparatively good."\n

\nThe sporting senses (fair ball, fair catch, etc.) began to appear in 1856. Fair play is from 1590s but not originally in sports. Fair-haired in the figurative sense of "darling, favorite" is from 1909. First record of fair-weather friends is from 1736 (in a letter from Pope published that year, written in 1730). The fair sex "women" is from 1660s, from the "beautiful" sense (fair as a noun meaning "a woman" is from early 15c.). Fair game "legitimate target" is from 1776, from hunting.\n\nOthers, who have not gone to such a height of audacious wickedness, have yet considered common prostitutes as fair game, which they might pursue without restraint.

["Advice from a Father to a Son, Just Entered into the Army and about to Go Abroad into Action," London, 1776]

\n
Wiktionary
fair

Etymology 1

  1. (lb en literary or archaic) beautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure and fresh quality. adv. Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably. n. 1 Something which is fair (in various senses of the adjective). 2 (context obsolete English) A woman, a member of the ‘fair sex’; also as a collective singular, women. 3 (context obsolete English) Fairness, beauty. 4 A fair woman; a sweetheart. 5 (context obsolete English) Good fortune; good luck. v

  2. 1 To smoothen or even a surface (especially a connection or junction on a surface). 2 To bring into perfect alignment (especially about rivet holes when connecting structural members). 3 To construct or design a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline or reduce air drag or water resistance. 4 (context obsolete English) To make fair or beautiful. Etymology 2

    n. 1 A community gathering to celebrate and exhibit local achievements. 2 An event for public entertainment and trade, a market.

Related phrases:
WordNet
fair

  1. adj. free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; or conforming with established standards or rules; "a fair referee"; "fair deal"; "on a fair footing"; "a fair fight"; "by fair means or foul" [syn: just] [ant: unfair]

  2. showing lack of favoritism; "the cold neutrality of an impartial judge" [syn: impartial] [ant: partial]

  3. more than adequate in quality; "fair work"

  4. not excessive or extreme; "a fairish income"; "reasonable prices" [syn: fairish, reasonable]

  5. visually appealing; "our fair city" [syn: sightly]

  6. very pleasing to the eye; "my bonny lass"; "there's a bonny bay beyond"; "a comely face"; "young fair maidens" [syn: bonny, bonnie, comely]

  7. (of a baseball) hit between the foul lines; "he hit a fair ball over the third base bag" [ant: foul]

  8. of no exceptional quality or ability; "a novel of average merit"; "only a fair performance of the sonata"; "in fair health"; "the caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average"; "the performance was middling at best" [syn: average, mediocre, middling]

  9. attractively feminine; "the fair sex" [syn: fair(a)]

  10. (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections; "fair copy"; "a clean manuscript" [syn: clean]

  11. free of clouds or rain; "today will be fair and warm"

  12. (used of hair or skin) pale or light-colored; "a fair complexion"; [syn: fairish]

fair

  1. adv. in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating; "they played fairly" [syn: fairly, clean] [ant: unfairly]

  2. in a fair evenhanded manner; "deal fairly with one another" [syn: fairly, without favoring one party, without favouring one party, evenhandedly]

fair

  1. n. a traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc. [syn: carnival, funfair]

  2. gathering of producers to promote business; "world fair"; "trade fair"; "book fair"

  3. a competitive exhibition of farm products; "she won a blue ribbon for her baking at the county fair"

  4. a sale of miscellany; often for charity; "the church bazaar" [syn: bazaar]

fair

v. join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly

Related phrases:
Gazetteer
Related phrases:
Wikipedia
Fair

A fair (archaic: faire or fayre) is a gathering of people for a variety of entertainment or commercial activities. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary with scheduled times lasting from an afternoon to several weeks.

Fair (disambiguation)

Fair is a type of market, or fête.

Fair or FAIR (acronym) may also refer to:

Fair (band)

Fair is an alternative rock band currently signed to Tooth & Nail Records. It was created in 2005 from members of Aaron Sprinkle's touring band – Sprinkle, fellow Poor Old Lu alum Nick Barber, Erick Newbill, and Joey Sanchez.

The band released their first album, The Best Worst-Case Scenario, on June 6, 2006.

Fair (surname)

Fair is a surname and may refer to:

Related phrases:

Usage examples of "fair".

And the ceiling fair that rose aboon The white and feathery fleece of noon.

Fair with my friend Patu, who, taking it into his head to sup with a Flemish actress known by the name of Morphi, invited me to go with him.

Lincoln defended himself with fair and full statements of fact, and was apparently justified in adopting the policy he had chosen.

I have not the slightest pretence to virtue, but I adore the fair sex, and now you and they know the road to my purse.

At this point Adam saw his way sufficiently clear to adumbrate to Davenport with fair exactness what he wished hime to find out.

They learned later that the girl had taken frequent flights in the South, where her father had, for a time, entered into the business of giving aeroplane flights for money at county fairs and the like.

Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height.

Elf-lords would ride at times, even from afar, for the land was wild but very fair.

Tiriki scampered into the room, her silky fair hair all aflutter about the elfin face, her small tunic torn, one pink foot sandalled and the other bare, whose rapid uneven steps bore her swiftly to Domaris.

The fairing for the towed array extended longitudinally aft from the leading edge of the sail to the stern.

Fathom, believing that now was the season for working upon her passions, while they were all in commotion, became, if possible, more assiduous than ever about the fair mourner, modelled his features into a melancholy cast, pretended to share her distress with the most emphatic sympathy, and endeavoured to keep her resentment glowing by cunning insinuations, which, though apparently designed to apologise for his friend, served only to aggravate the guilt of his perfidy and dishonour.

Juss, enforcing his half frozen limbs to resume the ascent, beheld a sight of woe too terrible for the eye: a young man, helmed and graithed in dark iron, a black-a-moor with goggle-eyes and white teeth agrin, who held by the neck a fair young lady kneeling on her knees and clasping his as in supplication, and he most bloodily brandishing aloft his spear of six foot of length as minded to reave her of her life.

He could not see the pilot, but he had a fair idea where the man would be huddled on the floor, and he was just aiming at that part of the floor when the helicopter veered sharply up the cliff.

One lucky person will receive the alexandrite, but in order to be fair to all, no one must mention the rare gem.

In these letters he founded his allegation, that Ireland had not her fair proportion of members of the house of commons, on this data.