Part 21

Fair"way` (?), n. The navigable part of a river, bay, etc., through which vessels enter or depart; the part of a harbor or channel ehich is kept open and unobstructed for the passage of vessels. Totten.

Fair"-weath`er (?), a. 1. Made or done in pleasant weather, or in circumstances involving but little exposure or sacrifice; as, a fair-weather voyage. Pope.

2. Appearing only when times or circumstances are prosperous; as, a fair-weather friend.

Fair-weather sailor, a make-believe or inexperienced sailor; -- the nautical equivalent of carpet knight.

Fair"-world` (?) n. State of prosperity. [Obs.]

They think it was never fair-world with them since.

Milton.

Fair"y (?), n.; pl. Fairies (#). [OE. fairie, faierie, enchantment, fairy folk, fairy, OF. faerie enchantment, F. fÈer, fr. LL. Fata one of the goddesses of fate. See Fate, and cf. Fay a fairy.] [Written also faÎry.] 1. Enchantment; illusion. [Obs.] Chaucer.

The God of her has made an end, And fro this worlde's fairy Hath taken her into company.

Gower.

2. The country of the fays; land of illusions. [Obs.]

He [Arthur] is a king y-crowned in Fairy.

Lydgate.

3. An imaginary supernatural being or spirit, supposed to assume a human form (usually diminutive), either male or female, and to meddle for good or evil in the affairs of mankind; a fay. See Elf, and Demon.

The fourth kind of spirit called the Fairy.

K. James.

And now about the caldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring.

Shak.

5. An enchantress. [Obs.] Shak.

Fairy of the mine, an imaginary being supposed to inhabit mines, etc. German folklore tells of two species; one fierce and malevolent, the other gentle, See Kobold.

No goblin or swart fairy of the mine Hath hurtful power over true virginity.

Milton.

Fair"y, a. 1. Of or pertaining to fairies.

2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money. Dryden.

Fairy bird (Zoˆl.), the Euoropean little tern (Sterna minuta); -- called also sea swallow, and hooded tern. -- Fairy bluebird. (Zoˆl.) See under Bluebird. -- Fairy martin (Zoˆl.), a European swallow (Hirrundo ariel) that builds flask-shaped nests of mud on overhanging cliffs. -- Fairy rings or circles, the circles formed in grassy lawns by certain fungi (as Marasmius Oreades), formerly supposed to be caused by fairies in their midnight dances. -- Fairy shrimp (Zoˆl.), a European fresh-water phyllopod crustacean (Chirocephalus diaphanus); -- so called from its delicate colors, transparency, and graceful motions. The name is sometimes applied to similar American species. -- Fairy stone (Paleon.), an echinite.

Fair"y*land` (?) n. The imaginary land or abode of fairies.

Fair"y*like` (?), a. Resembling a fairy, or what is made or done be fairies; as, fairylike music.

Faith (fth), n. [OE. feith, fayth, fay, OF. feid, feit, fei, F. foi, fr. L. fides; akin to fidere to trust, Gr. pei`qein to persuade. The ending th is perhaps due to the influence of such words as truth, health, wealth. See Bid, Bide, and cf. Confide, Defy, Fealty.] 1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting solely and implicitly on his authority and veracity; reliance on testimony.