/ˈfɛəɹi/, /ˈfeːɹiː/, /ˈfeː.ɹi/
OriginFrom 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.
- obsolete, uncountableThe realm of faerie; enchantment, illusion.
- countable, uncountableA 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.
“"They used to say there were fairies in that hill, I must tell you!"”
- countable, uncountableAn enchantress, or creature of overpowering charm.
- British, colloquial, countable, obsolete, uncountableAn attractive young woman.
“"When are we going to see this fairy?" demanded Algy.
"You, personally, never. You're far too immoral. I might let the others look at her from a distance in a year or two."”
“As she took out her key she was quite unaware that three pairs of eyes were watching her with interest from across the street. [...]
‘Strewth–’e ain’t ‘arf got a fairy this time,’ remarked the husky M”
- countable, uncountableA member of two species of hummingbird in the genus Heliothryx.
- countable, uncountableA legendary Chinese immortal.
- Like a fairy; fanciful, whimsical, delicate.
Formsfairies(plural) · faery(alternative) · faëry(alternative) · faerie(alternative) · faërie(alternative) · færie(alternative, archaic, nonstandard) · fairie(alternative) · more fairy(comparative) · most fairy(superlative)