fawn

¹ American  

[fawn] / fɔn /

noun

1. a young deer, especially an unweaned one.

2. a light yellowish-brown color.

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adjective

1. light yellowish-brown.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a doe) to bring forth young.

fawn ² American  

[fawn] / fɔn /

verb (used without object)

1. to seek notice or favor by flattery or servile behavior.

   The courtiers fawned over the king.

   Synonyms:

   kowtow , flatter , truckle , toady

2. (of a dog) to behave affectionately.

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fawn ¹ British  

/ fɔːn /

noun

1. a young deer of either sex aged under one year

2. 1. a light greyish-brown colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a fawn raincoat

3. (of deer) pregnant

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verb

1. (of deer) to bear (young)

fawn ² British  

/ fɔːn /

verb

1. to seek attention and admiration (from) by cringing and flattering

2. (of animals, esp dogs) to try to please by a show of extreme friendliness and fondness (towards)

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Other Word Forms

• fawner noun
• fawning adjective
• fawningly adverb
• fawningness noun
• fawnlike adjective

Etymology

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

Origin of fawn²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fawnen, Old English fagnian, variant of fægnian “to rejoice, make glad,” derivative of fægen “happy”; fain

Example Sentences

Is it a parable about the dangers posed by artificial intelligence and the fawning tendencies of large language models?

From Salon

The clip was underlaid by fawning discussion of his “mythical” rise from the outer boroughs to the White House.

From Salon

When people fawn over billionaires, it feeds the frenzy as our freedoms get trampled.

From Salon

The BBC has previously investigated how Jhaj was able to hire hundreds of children to act as his fawning fans at a fake film premiere in London's Leicester Square in 2023.

From BBC

Sir Keir has approached his dealings with the US president with a warmth critics have seen as fawning.

From BBC

Related Words

• crouch
• grovel