definitions

fawn

1
[ fawn ]
/ fɔn /
||
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noun

a young deer, especially an unweaned one.
a light yellowish-brown color.

adjective

light yellowish-brown.

verb (used without object)

(of a doe) to bring forth young.

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RELATED WORDS

crouch, grovel, defer, kowtow, flatter, stroke, submit, toady, creep, cotton, pander, debase, snow, scrape, jolly, stoop, woo, cajole, abase, kneel

Nearby words

favrile glass, favus, fawcett, fawkes, fawkes, guy, fawn, fawn lily, fawny, fax, fax machine, fax modem

Origin of fawn

1
1225–75; Middle English fawn, foun < Middle French faon, foun, feon ≪ Vulgar Latin *fētōn-, stem of *fētō offspring, derivative of Latin fētus fetus

Related forms

fawn·like, adjective

Can be confused

faun fawn

Definition for fawned (2 of 2)

fawn

2
[ fawn ]
/ fɔn /

verb (used without object)

to seek notice or favor by servile demeanor: The courtiers fawned over the king.
(of a dog) to behave affectionately.

Origin of fawn

2
before 1000; Middle English fawnen, Old English fagnian, variant of fægnian to rejoice, make glad, derivative of fægen happy; see fain

Related forms

fawn·er, nounfawn·ing·ly, adverbfawn·ing·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fawned

British Dictionary definitions for fawned (1 of 2)

fawn

1
/ (fɔːn) /

noun

a young deer of either sex aged under one year
  1. a light greyish-brown colour
  2. (as adjective)a fawn raincoat
in fawn (of deer) pregnant

verb

(of deer) to bear (young)

Derived Forms

fawnlike, adjective

Word Origin for fawn

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

British Dictionary definitions for fawned (2 of 2)

fawn

2
/ (fɔːn) /

verb (intr; often foll by on or upon)

to seek attention and admiration (from) by cringing and flattering
(of animals, esp dogs) to try to please by a show of extreme friendliness and fondness (towards)

Derived Forms

fawner, nounfawning, adjectivefawningly, adverbfawningness, noun

Word Origin for fawn

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