noun
1.
a young deer, especially an unweaned one.
2.
a light yellowish-brown color.
adjective
3.
light yellowish-brown.
verb (used without object)
4.
(of a doe) to bring forth young.
Origin:
1225–75; Middle English fawn, foun < Middle French faon, foun, feon ≪ Vulgar Latin *fētōn-, stem of *fētō offspring, derivative of Latin fētus fetus
1225–75; Middle English fawn, foun < Middle French faon, foun, feon ≪ Vulgar Latin *fētōn-, stem of *fētō offspring, derivative of Latin fētus fetus
Related forms
fawn·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used without object)
1.
to seek notice or favor by servile demeanor: The courtiers fawned over the king.
2.
(of a dog) to behave affectionately.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English fawnen, Old English fagnian, variant of fægnian to rejoice, make glad, derivative of fægen happy; see fain
before 1000; Middle English fawnen, Old English fagnian, variant of fægnian to rejoice, make glad, derivative of fægen happy; see fain
Related forms
fawn·er, noun
fawn·ing·ly, adverb
fawn·ing·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. toady, truckle, flatter, kowtow.
1. toady, truckle, flatter, kowtow.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To fawn
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Fawn
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is adulterate. Does it mean:
| morally ignoble or base; vile: |
| To debase or make impure by adding inferior materials or elements; use cheaper, inferior, or less desirable goods in the production of any professedly genuine article: |
Collins
World English Dictionary
fawn1 (fɔːn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a young deer of either sex aged under one year |
| 2. | a. a light greyish-brown colour |
| b. (as adjective): a fawn raincoat | |
| 3. | in fawn (of deer) pregnant |
| —vb | |
| 4. | (of deer) to bear (young) |
| [C14: from Old French faon, from Latin fētus offspring; see | |
| 'fawnlike1 | |
| —adj | |
| fawn2 (fɔːn) | |
| —vb | |
| 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) |
| [Old English fægnian to be glad, from fægen glad; see | |
| 'fawner2 | |
| —n | |
| 'fawning2 | |
| —adj | |
| 'fawningly2 | |
| —adv | |
| 'fawningness2 | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
fawn
1274, from O.Fr. faon "young animal," from V.L. *fetonem, acc. of *feto, from L. fetus "an offspring" (see fetus). Still used of the young of any animal in King James I's private translation of the Psalms, but mainly of deer from 15c. Color use is 1881.
fawn
O.E. fagnian "rejoice," from fægen "glad" (see fain); used in M.E. to refer to expressions of delight, especially a dog wagging its tail, hence "act slavishly" (early 14c.). Related: Fawned; fawning.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
It is normal and typical for a deer fawn to be left alone hiding in a bed.
Western culture seems to fawn over attention-seeking extroverts while introverts have been overlooked.
Western culture seems to fawn over attention-seeking extroverts while introverts are overlooked.
Fawn recruitment estimates can be used as an index of deer population's nutritional status.
Nearby Words
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