Part 102

Fend, v. i. To act on the defensive, or in opposition; to resist; to parry; to shift off.

The dexterous management of terms, and being able to fend . . . with them, passes for a great part of learning.

Locke.

Fen"der (?), n. [From Fend, v. t. & i., cf. Defender.] One who or that which defends or protects by warding off harm; as: (a) A screen to prevent coals or sparks of an open fire from escaping to the floor. (b) Anything serving as a cushion to lessen the shock when a vessel comes in contact with another vessel or a wharf. (c) A screen to protect a carriage from mud thrown off the wheels: also, a splashboard. (d) Anything set up to protect an exposed angle, as of a house, from damage by carriage wheels.

Fend"liche (?), a. Fiendlike. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fen"er*ate (?), v. i. [L. faeneratus, p. p. of faenerari lend on interest, fr. faenus interest.] To put money to usury; to lend on interest. [Obs.] Cockeram.

Fen`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. faeneratio.] The act of fenerating; interest. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

||Fen`es-tel"la (?), n. [L., dim. of fenestra &?; window.] (Arch.) Any ||small windowlike opening or recess, esp. one to show the relics ||within an altar, or the like.

||Fe*nes"tra (?), n.; pl. FenestrÊ (#). [L., a window.] (Anat.) A small ||opening; esp., one of the apertures, closed by membranes, between the ||tympanum and internal ear.

Fe*nes"tral (?), a. [L. fenestra a window.] 1. (Arch.) Pertaining to a window or to windows.

2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to a fenestra.

Fe*nes"tral, n. (Arch.) A casement or window sash, closed with cloth or paper instead of glass. Weale.

Fe*nes"trate (?), a. [L. fenestratus, p. p. of fenestrare to furnish with openings and windows.] 1. Having numerous openings; irregularly reticulated; as, fenestrate membranes; fenestrate fronds.

2. (Zoˆl.) Having transparent spots, as the wings of certain butterflies.

Fe*nes"tra*ted (?), a. 1. (Arch.) Having windows; characterized by windows.

2. Same as Fenestrate.

Fen`es*tra"tion (?), n. 1. (Arch.) The arrangement and proportioning of windows; -- used by modern writers for the decorating of an architectural composition by means of the window (and door) openings, their ornaments, and proportions.

2. (Anat.) The state or condition of being fenestrated.

Fe*nes"trule (?), n. [L. fenestrula a little window, dim. of fenestra a window.] (Zoˆl.) One of the openings in a fenestrated structure.

Fen"gite (?), n. (Min.) A kind of marble or alabaster, sometimes used for windows on account of its transparency.

Fe"ni*an (?), n. [From the Finians or Fenii, the old militia of Ireland, who were so called from Fin or Finn, Fionn, or Fingal, a popular hero of Irish traditional history.] A member of a secret organization, consisting mainly of Irishmen, having for its aim the overthrow of English rule in Ireland.

Fe"ni*an (?), a. Pertaining to Fenians or to Fenianism.

Fe"ni*an*ism (?), n. The principles, purposes, and methods of the Fenians.

Fenks (fks), n. The refuse whale blubber, used as a manure, and in the manufacture of Prussian blue. Ure.

Fen"nec (fn"nk), n. [Ar. fanek.] (Zoˆl.) A small, African, foxlike animal (Vulpes zerda) of a pale fawn color, remarkable for the large size of its ears.

Fen"nel (fn"nl), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L. feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F. fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.] (Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus FÊniculum (F. vulgare), having very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds.

Smell of sweetest fennel.

Milton.