fay
1 Americannoun
noun
noun
noun
noun
adjective
-
of or resembling a fay
-
informal pretentious or precious
verb
noun
Etymology
Origin of fay1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English faie, faie, from Middle French feie, fee, Old French fae, fee, ultimately from Latin Fāta Fate ( def. 6 )
Origin of fay2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English fai, fei, from Anglo-French, variant of feid faith
Origin of fay3
First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The territory affected fay the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 included parts of what are currently known as the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
From Literature
The police presence inside Dodger Stadium on opening fay was alarming.
From Los Angeles Times
These were fay, creatures who inhabited the trees and the rivers, the seas and the hills.
From Literature
The show didn’t represent him to judge him, or to criticize the way that he lives his life, or the choices he makes or how loud and fay or outrageous his wardrobe is that week.
From Los Angeles Times
The current had him in its teeth fay then, spinning him around and around.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
