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fairies

 - 5 dictionary results

fair⋅y

[fair-ee] noun, plural fair⋅ies, adjective
–noun
1. (in folklore) one of a class of supernatural beings, generally conceived as having a diminutive human form and possessing magical powers with which they intervene in human affairs.
2. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a male homosexual.
–adjective
3. of or pertaining to fairies: fairy magic.
4. of the nature of a fairy; fairylike.
5. fairy green.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME faierie < OF: enchantment, fairyland. See fay 1 , -ery


1. pixy, leprechaun. Fairy, brownie, elf, sprite are terms for imaginary beings usually less than human size, thought to be helpful or harmful to people. Fairy is the most general name for such beings: a good fairy as a godmother; misadventures caused by an evil fairy. A brownie is a good-natured tiny being who appears usually at night to do household tasks: Perhaps the brownies will come and mow the lawn tonight. Elf suggests a young, mischievous or roguish fairy: That child is a perfect little elf. Sprite suggests a fairy of pleasing appearance, older than an elf, to be admired for ease and lightness of movement; it may, however, be impish or even hostile: a dainty sprite.

fairy green

–noun
a medium yellow-green color.
Also called fairy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To fairies
fair·y   (fâr'ē)   
n.   pl. fair·ies
  1. A tiny imaginary being in human form, depicted as clever, mischievous, and possessing magical powers.

  2. Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a homosexual man.


[Middle English fairie, fairyland, enchanted being, from Old French faerie, from fae, fairy, from Vulgar Latin Fāta, goddess of fate, from Latin fātum, fate; see fate.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
fairy

  1. n.
    a male homosexual. (Rude and derogatory.) : Bob got fired for calling Bill a fairy.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

fairy 
c.1300, "enchantment, magic," from O.Fr. faerie "land of fairies, meeting of fairies, enchantment, magic," from fae "fay," from L. fata (pl.) "the Fates." In ref. to a class of supernatural beings, the word is used from 1393. The slang meaning "effeminate male homosexual" is first recorded 1895. Fairy tale "oral narrative centered on magical tests, quests, and transformations" (1749) translates Fr. Conte de feés of Madame d'Aulnois (1698, translated into Eng. 1699). Fairy ring is from 1599. Fossil sea urchins found on the Eng. downlands were called fairy loaves.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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