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

flattering, humble, cringing, crawling, ingratiating, prostrate, scraping, sniveling, bootlicking, cowering, bowing, abject, compliant, mealy-mouthed, obsequious, servile, slavish, spineless, submissive, subservient

Nearby words

favours, favrile glass, favus, fawcett, fawkes, 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 fawning (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 fawning

British Dictionary definitions for fawning (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 fawning (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