fawn1
[fawn]
- a young deer, especially an unweaned one.
- a light yellowish-brown color.
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- light yellowish-brown.
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- (of a doe) to bring forth young.
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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
fawn2
[fawn]
- to seek notice or favor by servile demeanor: The courtiers fawned over the king.
- (of a dog) to behave affectionately.
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Origin of fawn2
before 1000; Middle English fawnen, Old English fagnian, variant of fægnian to rejoice, make glad, derivative of fægen happy; see fain
Synonyms
See more synonyms for fawn on Thesaurus.com1. toady, truckle, flatter, kowtow.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for fawning
Contemporary Examples
Of course, this could be explained by the admittedly large percentage of the audience composed of fawning film students.
Between the Walters fawning and the Colbert debacle, Amaitis is fortunate only to be paying a record fine.
The fawning strangers ask questions like “What was it like…being shot at?”
The Guardian's Luke Harding, calling Assange a "fawning" interviewer, totally missed the point.
Constantino Diaz-Duran on how the Golden Globe-nominated filmmaker dupes his fawning American fan base.
Historical Examples
His anger changed to meekness, and his words were mild and fawning.
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
Zack spoke sympathetically as the dog, fawning, came closer.
The Shining CowAlex James
He did not like his spells of fawning loquacity and bursts of resentfulness.
End of the TetherJoseph Conrad
The voice of Emil Tesla, eager, fawning, had yet another quality in it.
Erik DornBen Hecht
He accused them of fawning on the rich and despising the poor.
History of the Moravian ChurchJ. E. Hutton
fawn1
- a young deer of either sex aged under one year
- a light greyish-brown colour
- (as adjective)a fawn raincoat
- in fawn (of deer) pregnant
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- (of deer) to bear (young)
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French faon, from Latin fētus offspring; see fetus
fawn2
- 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)
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Word Origin
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
Word Origin and History for fawning
fawn
n.
"young deer," mid-14c., from Anglo-French (late 13c.), Old French faon, feon "young animal" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *fetonem (nominative *feto), from Latin fetus "an offspring" (see fetus). Still used of the young of any animal in King James I's private translation of the Psalms, but mainly of deer from 15c. Color use is 1881.
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fawn
v.
Old English fægnian "rejoice, be glad, exult," from fægen "glad" (see fain); used in Middle English to refer to expressions of delight, especially a dog wagging its tail (early 13c.), hence "court favor, grovel, act slavishly" (early 14c.). Related: Fawned; fawning.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper