fell
1[ fel ]
/ fɛl /
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verb
simple past tense of fall.
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Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Words nearby fell
Definition for fell (2 of 5)
fell2
[ fel ]
/ fɛl /
verb (used with object)
to knock, strike, shoot, or cut down; cause to fall: to fell a moose;to fell a tree.
Sewing. to finish (a seam) by sewing the edge down flat.
noun
Lumbering. the amount of timber cut down in one season.
Sewing. a seam finished by felling.
Origin of fell
2First recorded before 900; Middle English fellen, fillen, fullen, Old English fellan, fyllan “to cut, cut down, destroy, shed (tears),” causative of feallan “to fall, fall down”; cognate with Gothic falljan, Old Frisian falla, fella, Old High German fellen, German fällen “to make fall”; see origin at fall
Definition for fell (3 of 5)
fell3
[ fel ]
/ fɛl /
adjective
Origin of fell
3First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English fel “treacherous, deceitful, false,” from Old French, nominative of felon “wicked”; see origin at felon1
OTHER WORDS FROM fell
fellness, nounDefinition for fell (4 of 5)
Origin of fell
4First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English fel(l); cognate with Dutch vel, German Fell, Old Norse -fjall (as in berfjall “bearskin”), Gothic -fill (in thrutsfill “leprosy,” literally “scab skin”); akin to Latin pellis “skin, hide,” Greek péltē “small, light, leather-covered shield”
Definition for fell (5 of 5)
fell5
[ fel ]
/ fɛl /
noun Scot. and North England.
an upland pasture, moor, or thicket; a highland plateau.
Origin of fell
5First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fel “hill, mountain; upland or pasture; a moor or down”; from Old Norse fjall, -fell, “hill, mountain,” akin to German Fels “rock, cliff”
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for fell (1 of 5)
fell1
/ (fɛl) /
verb (tr)
to cut or knock downto fell a tree; to fell an opponent
needlework to fold under and sew flat (the edges of a seam)
noun
US and Canadian the timber felled in one season
a seam finished by felling
Derived forms of fell
fellable, adjectiveWord Origin for fell
Old English fellan; related to Old Norse fella, Old High German fellen; see fall
British Dictionary definitions for fell (2 of 5)
fell2
/ (fɛl) /
adjective
archaic cruel or fierce; terrible
archaic destructive or deadlya fell disease
one fell swoop a single hasty action or occurrence
Derived forms of fell
fellness, nounWord Origin for fell
C13 fel, from Old French: cruel, from Medieval Latin fellō villain; see felon 1
British Dictionary definitions for fell (3 of 5)
British Dictionary definitions for fell (4 of 5)
fell4
/ (fɛl) /
noun
an animal skin or hide
Word Origin for fell
Old English; related to Old High German fel skin, Old Norse berfjall bearskin, Latin pellis skin; see peel 1
British Dictionary definitions for fell (5 of 5)
fell5
/ (fɛl) /
noun
(often plural) Northern English and Scot
- a mountain, hill, or tract of upland moor
- (in combination)fell-walking
Word Origin for fell
C13: from Old Norse fjall; related to Old High German felis rock
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Idioms and Phrases with fell
fell
see one fell swoop.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.