Part 4261

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Ardent; vehement; zealous.</def>

<blockquote>The <b>fervid</b> wishes, holy fires. <i>Parnell.</i></blockquote>

-- <wordforms><wf>Fer"vid*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt> -- <wf>Fer"vid*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Fervor</h1> <Xpage=554>

<hw>Fer"vor</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <altsp>[Written also <asp>fervour</asp>.]</altsp> <ety>[OF. <ets>fervor</ets>, <ets>fervour</ets>, F. <ets>ferveur</ets>, L. <ets>fervor</ets>, fr. <ets>fervere</ets>. See <er>Fervent</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Heat; excessive warmth.</def>

<blockquote>The <b>fevor</b> of ensuing day. <i>Waller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Intensity of feeling or expression; glowing ardor; passion; holy zeal; earnestness.</def>

<i>Hooker.</i>

<blockquote>Winged with <b>fervor</b> of her love. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Fervor</er>, <er>Ardor</er>.</syn> <usage> <i>Fervor</i> is a boiling heat, and <i>ardor</i> is a burning heat. Hence, in metaphor, we commonly use <i>fervor</i> and its derivatives when we conceive of thoughts or emotions under the image of ebullition, or as pouring themselves forth. Thus we speak of the <i>fervor</i> of passion, <i>fervid</i> declamation, <i>fervid</i> importunity, <i>fervent</i> supplication, <i>fervent</i> desires, etc. <i>Ardent</i> is used when we think of anything as springing from a deepseated glow of soul; as, <i>ardent</i> friendship, <i>ardent</i> zeal, <i>ardent</i> devotedness; burning with <i>ardor</i> for the fight.</usage>

<h1>Fescennine</h1> <Xpage=554>

<hw>Fes"cen*nine</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>Fescenninus</ets>, fr. <ets>Fescennia</ets>, a city of Etruria.]</ety> <def>Pertaining to, or resembling, the Fescennines.</def> -- <def2><tt>n.</tt> <def>A style of low, scurrilous, obscene poetry originating in fescennia.</def></def2>

<h1>Fescue</h1> <Xpage=554>

<hw>Fes"cue</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>festu</ets>, OF. <ets>festu</ets>, F. <ets>f\'82tu</ets>, fr. L. <ets>festuca</ets> stalk, straw.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A straw, wire, stick, etc., used chiefly to point out letters to children when learning to read. "Pedantic <i>fescue</i>.'</def>

<i>Sterne.</i>

<blockquote>To come under the <b>fescue</b> of an imprimatur. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An instrument for playing on the harp; a plectrum.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chapman.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The style of a dial.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A grass of the genus <spn>Festuca</spn>.</def>

<cs><col>Fescue grass</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a genus of grasses (<spn>Festuca</spn>) containing several species of importance in agriculture. <spn>Festuca ovina</spn> is <stype>sheep's fescue</stype>; <spn>F. elatior</spn> is <stype>meadow fescue</stype>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Fescue</h1> <Xpage=554>

<hw>Fes"cue</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i. & t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Fescued</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Fescuing</er>.]</wordforms> <def>To use a fescue, or teach with a fescue.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<h1>Fesels</h1> <Xpage=554>

<hw>Fes"els</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n. pl.</tt> <ety>[Written also <ets>fasels</ets>.]</ety> <def>See <er>Phasel</er>.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>May (Georgics).</i>

<h1>Fess, Fesse</h1> <Xpage=554>