fawn

1
[ fawn ]
See synonyms for: fawnfawnedfawnerfawnest on Thesaurus.com

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.

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 fētusfetus

Other words from fawn

  • fawnlike, adjective

Words that may be confused with fawn

Other definitions for fawn (2 of 2)

fawn2
[ fawn ]

verb (used without object)
  1. to seek notice or favor by flattery or servile behavior: The courtiers fawned over the king.

  2. (of a dog) to behave affectionately.

Origin of fawn

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

Other words for fawn

Other words from fawn

  • fawn·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fawn in a sentence

  • He fawned upon and tried to flatter his brother; but he drank more whiskey than ever.

  • As for the plodding, inky sycophants who fawned upon Mr. Cray's informativeness, Michael regarded them with horror and contempt.

    Sinister Street, vol. 1 | Compton Mackenzie
  • I fawned on her, and wagged myself about, and opened and shut my mouth, but no sound came out of it.

    Beautiful Joe | Marshall Saunders
  • So they fawned on the twin-girls, taking up a good deal of their attention; and by and by the dinner came to an end.

    Betty Vivian | L. T. Meade
  • Not that the elder one fawned, which would have been fearful; she only renounced—whatever she had to renounce.

British Dictionary definitions for fawn (1 of 2)

fawn1

/ (fɔːn) /


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

    • a light greyish-brown colour

    • (as adjective): a fawn raincoat

  1. in fawn (of deer) pregnant

verb
  1. (of deer) to bear (young)

Origin of fawn

1
C14: from Old French faon, from Latin fētus offspring; see fetus

Derived forms of fawn

  • fawnlike, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for fawn (2 of 2)

fawn2

/ (fɔːn) /


verb(intr; often foll by on or upon)
  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)

Origin of fawn

2
Old English fægnian to be glad, from fægen glad; see fain

Derived forms of fawn

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

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