fawn

¹

[fawn]

noun

1. a young deer, especially an unweaned one.

2. a light yellowish-brown color.

adjective

1. light yellowish-brown.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a doe) to bring forth young.

fawn

²

[fawn]

verb (used without object)

1. to seek notice or favor by flattery or servile behavior.

   The courtiers fawned over the king.

   Synonyms: kowtow, flatter, truckle, toady

2. (of a dog) to behave affectionately.

fawn

¹

/ fɔːn /

noun

1. a young deer of either sex aged under one year

2. 1. a light greyish-brown colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a fawn raincoat

3. (of deer) pregnant

verb

1. (of deer) to bear (young)

fawn

²

/ fɔːn /

verb

1. to seek attention and admiration (from) by cringing and flattering

2. (of animals, esp dogs) to try to please by a show of extreme friendliness and fondness (towards)

Other Word Forms

• fawnlike adjective
• fawner noun
• fawningness noun
• fawning adjective
• fawningly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fawn¹

1225–75; Middle English fawn, foun < Middle French faon, foun, feon ≪ Vulgar Latin *fētōn-, stem of *fētō offspring, derivative of Latin fētus fetus

Origin of fawn²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fawnen, Old English fagnian, variant of fægnian “to rejoice, make glad,” derivative of fægen “happy”; fain

Word History and Origins

Origin of fawn¹

C14: from Old French faon , from Latin fētus offspring; see _fetus

Origin of fawn²

Old English fægnian to be glad, from fægen glad; see _fain

Example Sentences

At the sight of the emerald ring, their puzzled expressions disappeared and they began fawning on her shamelessly, for surely this was an English princess on holiday!

Read more on Literature

Lavrenty Beria, the ruthless head of Stalin’s secret police and the dictator’s most fawning sidekick, fully expected to take the reins.

Read more on Literature

Mr. Carlson recently hosted a sympathetic, at times fawning, interview with Mr. Fuentes, and Mr. Roberts felt he needed to warn his fellow conservatives not to “cancel” them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since the project’s release last Friday, critics have been quick to fawn over Allen’s return to music and Allen has been sure to let the press know the album is not fully based in fact.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They’d encountered coaches throughout the recruiting process who fawned over Stewart and his potential.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crouch 
• grovel