fawn

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /fɔːn/ (General American) IPA(key): /fɔn/ (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /fɑn/ Rhymes: -ɔːn Homophones: faun; thorn (non-rhotic, th-fronting) === Etymology 1 === From Middle English fawne, fowne, foun, from Old French faon, foon, feon, from Vulgar Latin *fētōnem, from Latin fētus (“offspring, young”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(y)- (“to suckle, nurse”). Displaced native Old English hindċealf (literally “deer calf”). Doublet of fetus. ==== Noun ==== fawn (plural fawns) A young deer. Synonym: deerling A pale brown colour tinted with yellow, like that of a fawn. (obsolete) The young of an animal; a whelp. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Adjective ==== fawn (not comparable) Of the fawn colour. ===== Derived terms ===== fawn lily ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== fawn (third-person singular simple present fawns, present participle fawning, simple past and past participle fawned) (intransitive) To give birth to a fawn. === Etymology 2 === From Middle English fawnen, from Old English fagnian, alternative form of fæġnian (“to celebrate”), whence Middle English fainen, English fain. Cognate with Old Norse fagna. See also fain. ==== Verb ==== fawn (third-person singular simple present fawns, present participle fawning, simple past and past participle fawned)(intransitive) (literal, of a dog) To show devotion or submissiveness by wagging its tail, nuzzling, licking, etc. (figurative, by extension) To exhibit affection toward someone. To attempt to please someone. (derogatory) To seek favour by flattery and obsequious behaviour. [with on or upon] Synonyms: grovel, wheedle, soft-soap, toady; see also Thesaurus:suck up ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== fawn (plural fawns) (rare) A servile cringe or bow. Base flattery. === See also === Appendix:Colors === References === == Middle English == === Alternative forms === faun, faawn === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin Faunus. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /fau̯n/ === Noun === fawn (plural fawnes or fawny) faun, satyr ==== Descendants ==== English: faun ==== References ==== “faun, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007. == Welsh == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /vau̯n/ === Verb === fawn soft mutation of bawn === Noun === fawn soft mutation of mawn === Mutation ===