fair-spokenadj.
/ˌfɛːˈspəʊk(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈfɛrˈˌspoʊkən/ Now somewhat archaic.
1. Of a person: that speaks pleasantly; eloquent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > in speech
fair-spokec1450
fair-spokena1464
well bespoken?1473
soft-spoken1616
softly-spoken1851
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 65 (MED) He was..fayre-spokyn, but he spak but seldam.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 312/1 Fayre spoken..bein en langaige.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. xlii. 83 Arius..a suttle witted and a maruelous faire spoken man.
1649 H. Hammond Christians Obligations i. 7 Fair-spoken sword-men..whose words are softer then butter.
1752 Honesty Best Policy 19 He wrote a main good hand, and was a fair spoken lad.
1792 T. Beddoes Hist. Isaac Jenkins 6 I have heard say that Mr. Langford is a fair-spoken gentleman.
1828 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. III. xvi. 473 He was..fairspoken, both to high and low.
1849 New Monthly Mag. Oct. 237 Frosty..is a most polite, fair-spoken man.
1916 J. H. Morgan Leaves from Field Note-bk. xix. 184 He was a fair-spoken youth, obviously of some education.
2001 Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 13 Dec. e12 Viola-Cesario..the fresh-faced and fair-spoken androgyne.
2. Of words or speech: bland, civil; flattering, insincere. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > agreeable in manner > bland or suave > of conduct or words
smoothc1400
sarcenet1598
fair-spoken1611
urbane1659
velvety1861
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > [adjective] > of words or manners
fairOE
honeyed1435
glozed1509
fair-tongued1541
fine1568
smoothed1568
smoothinga1592
sugary1591
slicked1594
rose water1598
rose-watered1599
candied1604
soft1609
courtlya1616
smooth-faced1626
oileda1640
blandished1671
sugar1687
fair-spoken1704
smooth-tongued1761
silky1778
pill-gilded1822
blarneyfied1830
greasy1848
blarneyed1861
soothering1866
soothing-syrupy1902
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xv. 640/2 Flatterings and faire spoken words.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης Pref. sig. C These his faire spok'n words shall be heer fairely confronted..to his..deeds.
1704 W. King Mully of Mountown 4 Now let me tell ye 'Tis not fair spoken Words that fill the Belly.
1825 W. Scott Talisman 160 in Tales Crusaders III. 160 He accounted the fair-spoken courtesy..as a false and astucious mark.
1862 New Monthly Mag. 124 300 The gold, and especially the fair-spoken words of Louis XI.
1918 Paint, Oil & Drug Rev. 65 26/1 No treaty of peace nor fairspoken word will ever efface the scars which German atrocities..have seared upon the hearts of the American people.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1464