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fay

1
[ fey ]
/ feɪ /
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noun
a fairy.
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Origin of fay

1
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)

Other definitions for fay (2 of 4)

fay2
[ fey ]
/ feɪ /

noun Obsolete.
faith.

Origin of fay

2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English fai, fei, from Anglo-French, variant of feid faith

Other definitions for fay (3 of 4)

fay3
[ fey ]
/ feɪ /

noun Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

Origin of fay

3
First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening

Other definitions for fay (4 of 4)

Fay

or Faye

[ fey ]
/ feɪ /

noun
a female given name, form of Faith.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fay (1 of 3)

fay1
/ (feɪ) /

noun
a fairy or sprite
adjective
of or resembling a fay
informal pretentious or precious

Word Origin for fay

C14: from Old French feie, ultimately from Latin fātum fate

British Dictionary definitions for fay (2 of 3)

fay2
/ (feɪ) /

verb
to fit or be fitted closely or tightly

Word Origin for fay

Old English fēgan to join; related to Old High German fuogen, Latin pangere to fasten

British Dictionary definitions for fay (3 of 3)

fay3
/ (feɪ) /

noun
an obsolete word for faith

Word Origin for fay

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
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