GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

  1.       
    
    Fairy , n.; pl. Fairies . [OE. fairie, faierie, enchantment, fairy folk, fairy, OF. faerie enchantment, F. féer, fr. LL. Fata one of the goddesses of fate. See Fate, and cf. Fay a fairy.] [Written also faëry.]
    1. Enchantment; illusion. [Obs.]
      Chaucer.

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      The God of her has made an end,
      And fro this worlde's fairy
      Hath taken her into company.
      Gower.

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    2. The country of the fays; land of illusions. [Obs.]
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      He [Arthur] is a king y-crowned in Fairy.
      Lydgate.

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    3. An imaginary supernatural being or spirit, supposed to assume a human form (usually diminutive), either male or female, and to meddle for good or evil in the affairs of mankind; a fay. See Elf, and Demon.
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      The fourth kind of spirit [is] called the Fairy.
      K. James.

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      And now about the caldron sing,
      Like elves and fairies in a ring.
      Shak.

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    4. An enchantress. [Obs.]
      Shak.

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      Fairy of the mine, an imaginary being supposed to inhabit mines, etc. German folklore tells of two species; one fierce and malevolent, the other gentle, See Kobold.

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      No goblin or swart fairy of the mine
      Hath hurtful power over true virginity.
      Milton.

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  2.       
    
    Fairy, a.
    1. Of or pertaining to fairies.
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    2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money.
      Dryden.

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      Fairy bird (Zool.), the Euoropean little tern (Sterna minuta); -- called also sea swallow, and hooded tern. -- Fairy bluebird. (Zool.) See under Bluebird. -- Fairy martin (Zool.), a European swallow (Hirrundo ariel) that builds flask-shaped nests of mud on overhanging cliffs. -- Fairy rings or Fairy circles, the circles formed in grassy lawns by certain fungi (as Marasmius Oreades), formerly supposed to be caused by fairies in their midnight dances; also, the mushrooms themselves. Such circles may have diameters larger than three meters. -- Fairy shrimp (Zool.), a European fresh-water phyllopod crustacean (Chirocephalus diaphanus); -- so called from its delicate colors, transparency, and graceful motions. The name is sometimes applied to similar American species. -- Fairy stone (Paleon.), an echinite.

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