fay1
[fey]
- a fairy.
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Origin of fay1
fay2
[fey]
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Origin of fay2
fay3
[fey]
- ofay.
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Origin of fay3
First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening
Fay
or Faye
[fey]
- a female given name, form of Faith.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
pixiefairygnomeleprechaunsprightimpgoblinbrowniefayspritegremlinpuckelfspirithobbogiehobgoblinpranksternymphsirenExamples from the Web for fay
Contemporary Examples
Others like Fay say that even funding needle-exchange programs is a waste of resources.
Fay Vincent utters Pete Rose's name just about as much as Rudy Giuliani says 9/11.
Screenplay by Robert Riskin, who happens to have been Fay Wray's first husband.
“There is a tension between what Tea Party groups around the country think and what we do in Massachusetts,” says Fay.
Historical Examples
It will make all the difference in the world to Fay; and, on her account, to me also.
Jan and Her JobL. Allen Harker
Fay's was not, and neither letter bore any address in Bombay.
Jan and Her JobL. Allen Harker
FAY was still lying on her long chair in the verandah when Jan got in.
Jan and Her JobL. Allen Harker
Then Fay sent her to say good night to the children, who were just getting ready for bed.
Jan and Her JobL. Allen Harker
Do you mean to say, Fay, that he hasn't let you know where he is?
Jan and Her JobL. Allen Harker
fay1
- a fairy or sprite
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- of or resembling a fay
- informal pretentious or precious
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French feie, ultimately from Latin fātum fate
fay2
- to fit or be fitted closely or tightly
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Word Origin
Old English fēgan to join; related to Old High German fuogen, Latin pangere to fasten
fay3
- an obsolete word for faith
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Word Origin
C13: from Anglo-French feid; see faith
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 fay
n.
"fairy," late 14c., from Old French fae (12c., Modern French fée), from Vulgar Latin *fata "goddess of fate," fem. singular of Latin fata (neuter plural), literally "the Fates" (see fate). Adjective meaning "homosexual" is attested from 1950s.
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Fay
fem. proper name, in some cases from Middle English fei, Old French fei "faith," or else from fay "fairy."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper