FAIR, a.

1. Clear; free from spots; free from a dark hue; white; as, a fair skin; a fair complexion. Hence,
2. Beautiful; handsome; properly, having a handsome face. Thou art a fair woman to look upon. Gen. xii. Hence,
3. Pleasing to the eye; handsome or beautiful in general. Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches. Ezek. xxxi.
4. Clear; pure; free from feculence or extraneous matter; as, fair water.
5. Clear; not cloudy or overcast; as, fair weather; a fair sky.
6. Favorable; prosperous; blowing in a direction toward the place of destination; as, a fair wind at sea.
7. Open; direct, as a way or passage. You are in a fair way to promotion. Hence, likely to succeed. He stands as fair to succeed as any man.
8. Open to attack or access; unobstructed; as, a fair mark; a fair butt; fair in sight; in fair sight; a fair view.
9. Open; frank; honest; hence, equal; just; equitable. My friend is a fair man; his offer is fair; his propositions are fair and honorable.
10. Not effected by insidious or unlawful methods; not foul. He died a fair and natural death. Temple.
11. Frank; candid; not sophistical or insidious; as, a fair disputant.
12. Honest; honorable; mild; opposed to insidious and compulsory; as, to accomplish a thing by fair means.
13. Frank; civil; pleasing; not harsh. When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty. L'Estranage.
14. Equitable; just; merited. His doom is fair, That dust I am, and shall to dust return. Milton.
15. Liberal; not narrow; as, a fair livelihood. Carew.
16. Plain; legible; as, the letter is written in a fair hand.
17. Free from stain or blemish; unspotted; untarnished; as, a fair character or fame.

1. Openly; frankly; civilly; complaisantly. One of the company spoke him fair. L'Estrange.
2. Candidly; honestly; equitably. He promised fair.
3. Happily; successfully. Now fair befall thee. Shak.
4. On good terms; as, to keep fair with the world; to stand fair with one's companions. To bid fair, is to be likely, or to have a fair prospect. Fair and square, just dealing; honesty.

1. Elliptically, a fair woman; a handsome female. The fair, the female sex.
2. Fairness; applied to things or persons. [Not in use.]

A stated market in a particular town or city; a stated meeting of buyers and sellers for trade. A fair is annual or more frequent. The privilege of holding fairs is granted by the king or supreme power. Among the most celebrated fairs in Europe are those of Francfort and Leipsic in Germany; of Novi in the Milanese; of Riga and Archangel in Russia; of Lyons and St. Germain in France. In Great Britain many towns enjoy this privilege. Encyc. In the United States, there are no fairs similar to those in England; at least I know of none. The ladies sometimes hold fairs for the sale of their work for charitable purposes.

1. Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure.
   
   

   A fair white linen cloth. Book of Common Prayer.

2. Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably.
   
   

   Fair and square, justly; honestly; equitably; impartially. [Colloq.] -- To bid fair. See under Bid. -- To speak fair, to address with courtesy and frankness. [Archaic]

3. Fairness, beauty.
   
   
   [Obs.] Shak.
4. To make fair or beautiful.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   Fairing the foul. Shak.

5. A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place with their merchandise at a stated or regular season, or by special appointment, for trade.
6. Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.
   
   

   Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made. Shak.

7. A fair woman; a sweetheart.
   
   

   I have found out a gift for my fair. Shenstone.

8. To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.
9. A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair.
10. Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin.
    
    

    The northern people large and fair- complexioned. Sir M. Hale.

11. Good fortune; good luck.
    
    

    Now fair befall thee ! Shak.

    The fair, anything beautiful; women, collectively. "For slander's mark was ever yet the fair." Shak.

12. A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an agricultural fair.
    
    

    After the fair, Too late. [Colloq.]

13. Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; -- said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day.
    
    

    You wish fair winds may waft him over. Prior.

14. Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered; open; direct; -- said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view.
    
    

    The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged. Sir W. Raleigh.

15. Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; -- said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.
16. Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor; open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; -- said of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a fair statement.
    
    
    "I would call it fair play." Shak.
17. Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; -- said of words, promises, etc.
    
    

    When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty. L' Estrange.

18. Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting.
19. Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; so-so; as, a fair specimen.
    
    

    The news is very fair and good, my lord. Shak.

    Fair ball. (Baseball) (a) A ball passing over the home base at the height called for by the batsman, and delivered by the pitcher while wholly within the lines of his position and facing the batsman. (b) A batted ball that falls inside the foul lines; -- called also a fair hit. -- Fair maid. (Zoöl.) (a) The European pilchard (Clupea pilchardus) when dried. (b) The southern scup (Stenotomus Gardeni). [Virginia] -- Fair one, a handsome woman; a beauty, -- Fair play, equitable or impartial treatment; a fair or equal chance; justice. -- From fair to middling, passable; tolerable. [Colloq.] -- The fair sex, the female sex.

    Syn. -- Candid; open; frank; ingenuous; clear; honest; equitable; impartial; reasonable. See Candid.