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fawn

 - 6 dictionary results

fawn

1  [fawn]
Use fawn in a Sentence
–noun
1. a young deer, esp. 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; ME fawn, foun < MF faon, foun, feon ≪ VL *fētōn-, s. of *fētō offspring, deriv. of L fētus fetus

Related forms:
fawnlike, adjective

fawn

2  [fawn]
–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:
bef. 1000; ME fawnen, OE fagnian, var. of fægnian to rejoice, make glad, deriv. of fægen happy; see fain

Related forms:
fawner, noun
fawn⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
fawn⋅ing⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. toady, truckle, flatter, kowtow.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To fawn
fawn 1   (fôn)   
intr.v.   fawned, fawn·ing, fawns

  1. To exhibit affection or attempt to please, as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, or cringing.

  2. To seek favor or attention by flattery and obsequious behavior.


[Middle English faunen, from Old English fagnian, to rejoice, from fagen, fægen, glad.]
fawn'er n., fawn'ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to curry favor by behaving obsequiously and submissively: fawned on her superior; students apple-polishing the teacher; bootlicked to get a promotion; lawyers kowtowing to a judge; slavered over his rich uncle; toadying to members of the club; nobles truckling to the king.
fawn 2   (fôn)   
n.  

  1. A young deer, especially one less than a year old.

  2. A grayish yellow-brown to moderate reddish brown.


[Middle English, from Old French foun, faon, feon, young animal, from Vulgar Latin *fētō, *fētōn-, from Latin fētus, offspring; see dhē(i)- in Indo-European roots.]
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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Word Origin & History

fawn  (n.)
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 K.J.V., but mainly of deer from 15c. Color use is 1881.

fawn  (v.)
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" (c.1310).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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