fairy

[ fair-ee ]
/ ˈfɛər i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR fairy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural fair·ies.

(in folklore) one of a class of supernatural beings, generally conceived as having a diminutive human form and possessing magical powers with which they intervene in human affairs.
Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.

adjective

of or relating to fairies: fairy magic.
of the nature of a fairy; fairylike.
fairy green.

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Origin of fairy

First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English faierie, fairie, from Old French: literally, “enchantment, fairyland, fairy folk”; see fay1, -ery

synonym study for fairy

1. Fairy, brownie, elf, sprite are terms for imaginary beings usually less than human size, thought to be helpful or harmful to people. Fairy is the most general name for such beings: a good fairy as a godmother; misadventures caused by an evil fairy. A brownie is a good-natured tiny being who appears usually at night to do household tasks: Perhaps the brownies will come and mow the lawn tonight. Elf suggests a young, mischievous or roguish fairy: That child is a perfect little elf. Sprite suggests a fairy of pleasing appearance, older than an elf, to be admired for ease and lightness of movement; it may, however, be impish or even hostile: a dainty sprite.

Words nearby fairy

Fairview Heights, Fairview Park, fairway, fair-weather, fair-weather friend, fairy, fairy bluebird, fairy cycle, fairyfloss, fairy glove, fairy godfather
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to fairy

imp, goblin, gnome, leprechaun, gremlin, siren, enchanter, nymph, puck, elf, brownie, pixie, genie, spirit, fay, hob, sprite, sylph, bogie, mermaid

Example sentences from the Web for fairy

British Dictionary definitions for fairy

fairy
/ (ˈfɛərɪ) /

noun plural fairies

an imaginary supernatural being, usually represented in diminutive human form and characterized as clever, playful, and having magical powers
slang a male homosexual
away with the fairies informal out of touch with reality

adjective (prenominal)

of or relating to a fairy or fairies
resembling a fairy or fairies, esp in being enchanted or delicate

Derived forms of fairy

fairy-like, adjective

Word Origin for fairy

C14: from Old French faerie fairyland, from feie fairy, from Latin Fāta the Fates; see fate, fay 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with fairy

fairy
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.