fairy

== English == === Alternative forms === faery, faëry faerie, faërie færie (archaic, nonstandard) fairie === Etymology === From Middle English faierie, fairie, from Old French faerie, from fae + -erie, from Latin fāta (“goddess of fate”). Equivalent to fay +‎ -ry. Attested in English from about 1330, in King Alisaunder, first in the sense of "enchantment, illusion, dream" ("that thou herdest is fairye") and shortly thereafter "realm of the fays, fairy-land" and "the inhabitants of fairyland, collectively". The re-interpretation of the term as a countable noun denoting individual inhabitants of fairy-land can be traced to the 1390s, but became common only in the 16th century, perhaps due to reinterpreting phrases like faerie knight. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈfɛəɹi/ (General South African) IPA(key): /ˈfeːɹiː/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈfeː.ɹi/ (General American) enPR: fârʹē (without the Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA(key): /ˈfɛə̯ɹ.i/ (Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA(key): /ˈfɛɹ.i/ (New Zealand, without the cheer–chair merger) IPA(key): /ˈfeə.ɹi/ (New Zealand, cheer–chair merger) IPA(key): /ˈfiə.ɹi/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈfeɹ.ɪ/, /ˈfeɹe/ (Lancashire, fair–fur merger) IPA(key): /ˈfɜːɹɪ/ Homophones: ferry (Mary–marry–merry merger), furry (fair–fur merger) Rhymes: -ɛəɹi === Noun === fairy (countable and uncountable, plural fairies) (uncountable, obsolete) The realm of faerie; enchantment, illusion. (mythology) A mythical being of human form with magical powers, known in many sizes and descriptions, although often depicted in modern illustrations only as a small sprite with gauze-like wings, especially one that is female. Fairies are revered in some modern forms of paganism. An enchantress, or creature of overpowering charm. (British, obsolete, colloquial) An attractive young woman. (Northern England, US, derogatory, colloquial) A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate. (derogatory) An effeminate man or boy. A member of two species of hummingbird in the genus Heliothryx. A legendary Chinese immortal. Synonyms: xian, immortal ==== Synonyms ==== (supernatural creature): fay, fey, fae, sprite; see also goblin (hostile) (male homosexual): fag (US), faggot (US), poof (UK), queen ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === fairy (comparative more fairy, superlative most fairy) Like a fairy; fanciful, whimsical, delicate. ….—a large cashmere shawl, with its border of roses, thrown carelessly on a chair—a crimson cushion, where lay sleeping a Blenheim dog, almost small enough to have passed through the royal ring in that most fairy tale of the White Cat:—all bespoke a lady's room. === References === == Spanish == === Etymology === From genericized trademark Fairy. === Noun === fairy m (uncountable) (Spain) washing-up liquid, dish soap Synonyms: lavavajillas, lavavajillas líquido